Hawker Hind

In 1934, the Air Ministry issued specification G7/34 for an interim replacement for the Hawker Hart day bomber so that extra squadrons planned in the expansion of the RAF could be established without having to wait for the more advanced Battles and Blenheims, which would not be available for several years.

The Hind first entered service at Bircham Newton, equipping one flight each of 18, 21 and 34 Squadrons, finally equipping some twenty bomber squadrons. By autumn 1937 the Battles and Blenheims were entering service and in November a contract was awarded to General Aircraft for the conversion of 124 Hind bombers to dual control trainers for the Volunteer Reserve Flying Training Schools. At least one Hind was still flying with the RAF in 1943.

About this aircraft

This aeroplane was one of a batch of 20 delivered to the Afghan Air Force in 1938 (8 new and 12 ex RAF), which are thought to have been in service until 1956. In 1968 one was offered to the RAF Museum and a second to the Shuttleworth Collection. The RAF Museum example was collected by an RAF Hercules, but the retrieval of the Collection’s specimen was only made possible through the initiative of Bill Collard, an SVAS member, who persuaded the senior management of the Ford Motor Company (where he was also a manager) to use the 6,000 mile journey as a pre-service shakedown trial for a new model truck. With the considerable help of Vernon Maitland of Excelsior Coaches the retrieval was successfully completed in 1971.

After a 10 year restoration programme the Hind was flown again, in Afghan colours, by Dickie Martin on 17 August 1981. It was later repainted in 15 Squadron RAF colours and given the serial K5414.

Specification