SAMPLE FROM BOOK „THE ULTIMATE TEMPEST“ BY CHRISTOPHER THOMAS

The first of 89 ex-RAF Tempests refurbished for the RIAF was HA547, seen here at Langley shortly before delivery

early in 1949. The first six came from the PR-series but the remaining 83 were earlier MW-serialled aircraft which

had to be brought up to the same standard as the PR-series. HA547 was formerly PR874 which had been delivered

straight into storage in February 1946 and after more than two years at No 20 MU had been sold back to Hawker to

fulfil the orders from India and Pakistan. Initially the Tempests for India wore a newly designed RIAF roundel, based

on the ‘Ashoka Chakra’ symbol, apparently incorrectly painted in the same national colours as the fin flash (green/

white/saffron); it should have been dark blue.

In November 1948 a change in policy introduced the simpler saffron/white/green roundel, as seen here on HA635

(previously MW388) – the last aircraft of Hawker order, seen here at Deversoir (Egypt) en route to India. This view

also clearly shows the head-rest support which was standard on the refurbished aircraft and was also retro-fitted

to RAF Tempests.

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September 2022

INFO Eduard

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