Hawker Hurricane
Miscellany
Designed by Sir Sydney Camm the Hurricane would provide the Royal Air Force with its first monoplane fighter and would play a pivotal role for Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain.
Flown by a number of 'aces', including author Roald Dahl, the type would spend twelve years in RAF service in a variety of roles. Discover a range of Hawker Hurricane facts in this article.
Legendary Designer
Sir Sydney Camm the chief designer at Hawker Aircraft Limited was the man behind the
Hurricane. He would also be involved in the design of a number of other well known aircraft such as the
Hawker Typhoon and Hawker Hunter, he also played a part in the development of the Hawker Harrier.
Biplane Lineage
Based on the Hawker Fury biplane early designs of a monoplane aircraft to be powered by a 1,000-hp Rolls-Royce PV.12, later known as the Merlin, were originally known as the Fury monoplane before
being developed into the Hurricane.
First Flight
The Hurricane prototype (K5083) made its maiden flight on the 6th November 1935 at Brooklands with Hawker's chief test pilot George Bulman flying the Rolls-Royce 'C' engine powered aircraft.
Entering Service
When the Hurricane entered service on the 15th December 1937 with No. 111 Squadron it was the first
Royal Air Force monoplane fighter. It would also be the first RAF aircraft with eight machine-guns and the first to fly faster than 300 mph.
First Aerial Victory on the Western Front
Flying from Vassincourt, France on the 30th October 1939 Pilot Officer Mould of No. 1 Squadron
shot down a Dornier Do 17P which would be the first German aircraft shot down over the Western Front during the
Second World War (1939 - 1945).
Hawker Hurricane Mk I (P2921) at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford
First RAF Ace
Flying Officer Edgar Kain, known as Cobber Kain, who flew the Hurricane with No. 73 Squadron became the first Royal Air Force ace of the Second World War when he shot down his fifth aircraft in
March 1940. He would shoot down a further 12 aircraft before he died in a flying accident on the 7th June 1940 aged 21.
Flown by Douglas Bader
Squadron Leader of No. 242 Squadron during the
Battle of Britain Douglas Bader
flew the Hurricane Mk I, during this period he is credited with 11 aircraft destroyed, 4 damaged and 1 probable.
Top Scoring Battle of Britain Squadron
Equipped with the type it was No. 303 (Polish) Squadron that would be the highest scoring squadron during the battle claiming 126 aircraft.
Fighter Command's Only Victoria Cross
Flight Lieutenant James Brindley Nicolson would be the only Fighter Command
pilot to be awarded the Victoria Cross during World War 2. This was for his actions on the 16th August 1940 when, despite
his Hurricane Mk I (P3576) being damaged by Messerschmitt Bf 109s, he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 110 before
bailing out.
Sir Keith Park's Personal Aeroplane
During the Battle of Britain Air Vice-Marshal Keith Park who commanded 11 Group
would often visit airfields under his command in his own Hawker Hurricane Mk I (P3854) OK-1.
Hero of the Battle of Britain
During the battle Hurricanes flew around 35,000 operational sorties and would shoot down 55% of all German aircraft claimed, more than other aircraft, including the Supermarine Spitfire
, and ground defences put together.
Roald Dahl
The famous author flew Hurricanes and with five victories would become an RAF ace.
16 Different Variants and Sub Variants
Although originally designed as a fighter the Hurricane would be used in a number of other roles such as ground attack, night fighter and fighter bomber with the latter being nicknamed
'Hurribomber'. One of the more successful variants was the Hurricane Mk IID which was armed with a pair of 40mm Vickers 'S' anti tanks guns. These would be nicknamed the 'Flying Can Openers'.
Naval Hurricane
Known as the Hawker Sea Hurricane these would enter service with the Fleet Air Arm
during May 1941. Early converted Hurricanes for naval operations were nicknamed 'Hurricats'. Stationed aboard Catapult Aircraft Merchantmen (CAM) and Merchant aircraft carriers
(MAC) they would be launched by catapult when required. They would also operate aboard traditional aircraft carriers.
First Use of Air-to-Ground Rockets
It was the Mk IV which would be the first aircraft to use air-to-ground rocket projectiles on operations when they were used on the 2nd September 1943.
Hawker Sea Hurricane Mk IB (Z7015) at Shuttleworth
Radar Hurricanes
The 15th June 1943 saw No. 527 Squadron, Castle Camps formed and they would use Hurricane Mk I
(P2992) painted in a red/orange colour to help calibrate radar.
Delivering the Mail
As part of Transport Command's No. 1697 (Air Dispatch Letter Service) Flight, 1944 saw a number of Hurricanes underwing tanks converted to store mail.
Slip-Wing Hurricane
One of the most unusual ideas tested on the Hurricane during the Second World War must have been the slip-wing. Known as the Hillson FH.40 Slip-wing Hurricane, this saw a Mk I (L1884) fitted with a top wing.
This made the aircraft look like a Hurricane biplane but the extra top wing, which could hold extra fuel and help with lift on take-off, could be discarded when no longer required.
Two Seater Hurricanes
No official two seat examples were built but two Mk IICs were modified in the field with the first flying on the 27th September 1946.
Hurricane Users
The type would see service with 25 air forces around the world and during the Second World War would be used by some Axis air forces. Aside from the Royal Air Force one of the biggest users of the
Hurricane was the Soviet Union who received 2,952 examples.
Japanese Hurricane
Mk IIC (BE208) of No. 232 Squadron, Singapore flown by Squadron Leader Richard Brooker
had force landed at its airfield and ended up in a ditch, the pilot was unhurt, and when the airfield was abandoned as a result of the Japanese advance the aircraft was captured. After repairs it
was tested by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Service.
Last Hurricane Squadron
12 years service with the RAF came to an end with No. 6 Squadron. They would perform the last
operational sortie of the type on the 13th January 1947 and were the last to have their Hurricanes, which were Mk IVs, replaced. This was two days later on the 15th January 1947 when they received the
Hawker Tempest.
Total Built
During the Hurricane's production run a total of 14,583 were built in the UK and Canada. The last example ever built was at Hawker Aircraft's satellite factory at Langley, Buckinghamshire.
'The Last of the Many'
Mk IIC (PZ865) was the last Hurricane ever built and would be kept by Hawker and would not see active service in World War 2. It flew in the King's Cup in 1950 in the hands of RAF ace Group
Captain Peter Townsend and finished second. It would appear in the Battle of Britain (1969) film before being handed over to the
Royal Air Force Battle of Britain Memorial Flight on the 29th March 1972 and is still flying today.
Restoring a Hurricane
To restore an example today to airworthy condition would set you back around £2 million pounds and take at least 26,000 hours.
Hawker Hurricane Mk IIB (BE505) at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford
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