Hawker Demon

With the introduction of the Hawker Hart in January 1930 the Royal Air Force found itself in the uncomfortable situation of having a bomber faster than any of its current fighters, leading to the Air Ministry looking to redress the balance. Issuing Specification 15/30 which was based on the performance of the Hart.

As far as Hawker were concerned the obvious solution was to produce a fighter version of their Hart bomber, known as the Hawker Hart fighter. The prototype would be a converted Hart and this made its maiden flight on the 31st March 1931. On the 10th July 1931 No. 23 Squadron, based at RAF Kenley, received the first of six pre-production Hart fighters for evaluation. Now named the Demon, the 10th February 1933 would see the first production version fly.

The Demon Mk I would have a two man crew and was originally powered by the 480-hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel IIS engine whilst later production examples were powered by the 585-hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel V engine. This gave the Demon Mk I a top speed of 182 mph, range of 404 miles with a service ceiling of 27,800 ft. Armament consisted of two forward-firing Vickers machine-guns and one rear-firing Lewis gun.

As well as No. 23 Squadron, No. 65 Squadron, which was reformed at RAF Hornchurch on the 1st August 1934, and No. 29 Squadron would be equipped with the type as would four Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadrons. The Demon would also serve with No. 74 Squadron on Malta. The types frontline service with the Royal Air Force came to an end by 1939, when No. 607 Squadron gave up the last of their Demons in August 1939 for Gloster Gladiators.

The Royal Australian Air Force took delivery of 64 aircraft and these would be powered by the 600-hp Rolls-Royce Kestrel engine.

A total of 304 Hawker Demons were manufactured with Boulton Paul producing a number of these featuring a Frazer-Nash turret for the rear gunner, with some Demons having the turret added after production, with these known as Turret Demons.

Demon at Shuttleworth