At some time shortly after the end of the Second World War, the remaining Hawker Hurricanes of the REAF were overhauled and re-painted in what is believed to have been the ‘sand and stone’ pattern on upper surfaces and sky-blue underneath, better suitable for ‘desert warfare’. The upper surface camouflage also wrapped around most of the front of the fuselage and down the tropical oil filter scoop, as well as the leading edges of wings and tail-planes. This Hurricane Mk IIc Trop (KZ526) received the usual set of national markings, but without a yellow ring around the fuselage-roundels and no individual code letters, while the ex-RAF serial number KZ562 has been re-painted in white. Although the cannons (and the gun sight) have been removed, cannon-mounting stubs remained in place on the wing’s leading edge. (Artwork by Peter Penev)