Date: 30th July 1942.
Unit: No. 154 Squadron R.A.F.
Type: Spitfire Vb.
Serial: BM194.
Coded: HT - S
Location: St. Omer, France.
Pilot: P/O Charles Edward (Ted) Hurt. 48425 R.A.F. Age 20. Killed.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Took-off from Fairlop, Essex, (Satellite airfield to Hornchurch) on Thursday 30th July 1942 on a " Ramrod" operation to escort Hurri-bombers to St. Omer, northern France. The "Ramrod" force was hit by the 1st Gruppe JG 26 over Wizernes, two Hurricanes were shot down and six Spitfires from the "Hornchurch Wing" were also lost. It is almost certaininly the case that the Spitfire BM194 flown by the young 20 year old from Enfield, P/O Hurt, was a victim of the guns of I/JG 26 on this day.
(Possibly one of the three Spitfires that the I Gruppe CO Hauptmann Johannes Seifert claimed on this day, especially as one of his victories came down north west of St. Omer.)
July 1942 - April 2000. (Above) In 1942 a Luftwaffe NCO examines the wreckage of P/O Hurt's Spitfire,(Photo ECPA France) and below during April 2000 Melvin Brownless and David King recreate the tragic scene. (Note the 303 ammo boxes still full of ammunition.)
The smashed centre section of BM194. (Photo ECPA France)
The tail section. (Photo ECPA France)
The sad remains of the dead pilot P/O Hurt, are carried away from the crash site on a stretcher by Luftwaffe personnel. (Photo ECPA France)
Longuenesse Cemetery 1942. P/O Hurt's Grave, April 2000.
I Gruppe CO Hauptmann Johannes Seifert - later killed on the 25th November 1943 (Courtesy M. Harrison)
BURIAL DETAILS:
P/O Charles Edward (Ted) Hurt is buried at Longuenesse (St. Omer) Souvenir Cemetery, France. Plot 8. Row A. Grave 19.
Son of Charles Julian and Annie Hurt, of Enfield, Middlesex.
Research by David King (A.R.S.)
