By Pierre Kosmidis

Photos submitted by Ian Slater, JP843 Project Lead, Typhoon Legacy Co. Ltd. exclusively to www.ww2wrecks.com and used by permission

Hawker Typhoon JP843 was the fourth production batch of 600 aircraft built by Gloster Aircraft during 1943, deliveries for this batch started 5/4/1943 and ended 12/1943.

JP843 was originally fitted with the “Car Door” canopy, faired cannons and early exhaust fairings.

From 51 MU, Lichfield, JP843 was delivered to 197 Sqn Tangmere on 22 Sept 1943. December 1943, the operational records book reports JP843 as OV-T. Jan 3^rd 1944 JP843 was flown by Flying Officer K.J. Harding on a Rhubarb to Yvrench with three other Typhoons each armed with 2 X 250 lb bombs.

Harding became separated from the others in the target area and, returning alone, was intercepted by 4 FW190s which he managed to outrun despite sustaining two hits.

Category B damage was repaired, and the aircraft is shown back in operations by 11 Jan 1944.

February 1944 saw an influx of new Typhoons fitted with sliding hoods and RP mods, it is suspected that JP843 was sidelined for a short period before being sent to 13 MU 22 Feb 1944, and Gloster on 25 April 1944.

It is likely that both of these allocations were concerning canopy and RP mods. On return from Glosters, JP843 was reported at 83 GSU, Redhill 8 June 1944 and allocated to 609 Sqn.

During June 1944, JP843 does not appear in 609 Squadron’s Operational Record Book, however it does appear briefly with 198 Squadron as “K” when it is reported returning with engine trouble.

It is likely that JP843 was “borrowed” form 609 by 198 during the hectic month of June 1944, but does return to 609 between 8 July and 27 July 1944. JP843 was lost during operations along with P/O Price 27 July 1944.

www.ww2wrecks.com contacted Mr. Ian Slater, JP843 Project Lead, Typhoon Legacy Co. Ltd. to find out more about the exciting project of bringing this historic WW2 aircraft back to airworthy condition.

When did the project start and who were directly involved?

Typhoon Legacy Co. Ltd. and the rebuild of Hawker Typhoon JP843 started with Ian Slater in British Columbia Canada more than 25 years ago.

The Canadian dream of seeing an airworthy Typhoon started with the fascination of the aircraft’s history and unique design.

Understanding that the undertaking would be incredibly demanding, requiring drawings, skilled trades and an approved organisation as a backbone for the project even before work could begin, Ian trained for more than two decades as an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer specializing in sheet metal fabrication.

The search for drawings was difficult, but bared fruit in 2009 with the discovery of volumes of “big Hawker” technical drawings. With the purchase of Roger Marley’s Typhoon project in 2015,Typhoon JP843 came to Canada to join with the work Ian had done throughout his career.