The Vintage Wings of Canada Hawker Hurricane Mk XII is truly a Canadian story in every respect. During the Second World War, Hurricanes were built by Canadian Car and Foundry in Canada under license to Hawker. Plants in Fort William (Thunder Bay), Amherst, NS and Montreal produced over 1,400 of the Mk XII. The serial number of our Hurricane indicates that it was one that spent its entire career here in Canada and served for a time in RCAF Station Bagotville. It was sold as surplus after the war and ended up in the eclectic collection of a Saskatchewan farmer named Harry Whereatt. But Mr. Whereatt was no ordinary farmer - he was an accomplished aircraft mechanic, collector and restoration expert.

The Hurricane was born with RCAF serial number 5447, but is a composite of parts scavenged from several wrecks and sources. Harry Whereatt spent four decades and countless hours at his workshop in rural South Saskatchewan constructing this amazing aircraft from parts and taking it to flying status. Vintage Wings of Canada will learn much from Whereatt’s work as we re-assemble the aircraft and take it to an even higher level of completion. The work will be done by the Hurricane XXII Restoration Team of Vintage Wings, a group made entirely of Canadian volunteers with deep experience in aircraft and engine maintenance, and metal fabrication. To complete the amazing Canadian story, the fully restored Hurricane will be painted in the striking markings and colours of a Hurricane flown by one of the greatest Canadian fighter aces of the Second World War – Alberta native Pilot Officer William “Willie” McKnight who was credited with more than 16 kills against Luftwaffe aircraft at the beginning of the war. McKnight later disappeared while on a mission and was never seen again. The VWC Hurricane will be flown in his honour in the skies over Canada.

Type: Single engine fighter and ground attack aircraft
Notable Facts: Originally Mark IIb converted to a Mark XII
Manufactured: 1942, Canada Car & Foundry Co., Amherst, NS
Construction Number: 46002; Military Serial: RAF 5447
Current Registration: C-GGAJ
Present Markings: RCAF 402 Squadron period markings
Full History