Think of a British single-seat fighter aircraft. It was used by the Royal Air Force in World War II. That is the Hawker Hurricane. It played a vital role with the Spitfire during the summer of 1940. The hectic battles during that time are well known.
The Hawker Hurricane destroyed more enemy aircraft. It did so during the Battle of Britain. It exceeded all other air and ground defenses combined. The Hawker Aircraft Company designed it in 1934. The aircraft first entered service in 1937. It provided the RAF with a fighter faster than aircraft then in service. Its fire power increased to eight machine guns.
When war was declared in September 1939 about five-hundred Hurricanes were in service. Several squadrons were sent to France. During the 1940 German Blitzkrieg the Hurricane fought a punishing rearguard action. Over 25% of all Fighter Command’s aircraft were destroyed.
Aircraft production increased during the Battle of Britain. By September 1940 the number of Hurricane squadrons had risen. It rose from eighteen a year earlier to thirty-two. Flt Lt J.B. Nicholson of No.249 Squadron was awarded Fighter Command’s only Victoria Cross. He received it while flying a Hurricane.
Later in the War Hurricanes made a significant contribution. They defended Malta and fought in the desert war in North Africa. They were also used in the war against the Japanese in the Far East.
The Hawker Hurricane was one of the most famous British fighters of World War II. The prototype first flew in November 1935. The first production aircraft made its initial flight in October 1937. Within weeks Hurricanes were delivered to their operational squadrons. By the time the war broke out in September 1939, the Royal Air Force had about 500 Hurricanes. Production continued.
The Hawker Hurricane saw exemplary service in World War II. It accounted for over 60% of the air victories in the Battle of Britain. 1,715 Hurricanes flew with Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain. This was far in excess of all other British fighters combined. Hurricane pilots were credited with four fifths of all enemy aircraft destroyed from July to October 1940.
Hurricane OK-1 had the most impact on the Battle of Britain. It didn’t shoot down anything during the battle. However, it was piloted by an Ace with twenty victories. Jim Schofield said OK-1 was the trusted personal aircraft of Air Vice Marshal Sir Keith Park. Air Chief Marshal Lord Tedder said if any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did. Sir Keith saved the entire world. He became the first General to defeat the Nazis in a large battle. It may be the most-pivotal battle in world history. His Hurricane, OK-1, was the plane he flew while doing it.
Sir Keith’s Hurricane served him and the RAF extremely well throughout the battle. OK-1 was a Block 3 Mk.1 Hurricane. It had a Merlin III engine. Its serial number was P3854. OK-1 kept Sir Keith safe.
The Hurricane was the first monoplane fighter of the Royal Air Force. It was the World’s first eight-gun monoplane fighter. It could surpass 300 mph in level flight with a full war load. Designed by Sydney Camm, the Hurricane was based on his earlier biplane fighters. It influenced such later aircraft as the Typhoon, Tempest and Sea Fury.
More Hawker Hurricanes were used in the Battle of Britain than any other RAF fighter type. Their pilots claimed 75 % of all victories. 29 squadrons of Hurricanes took part in the Battle of Britain. Only 19 squadrons of Spitfires did. Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson flew a Hurricane. He was Fighter Command’s only VC in the Second World War.
Although slower than a Spitfire, the Hurricane had a smaller turning radius. It could out turn its Luftwaffe adversary. The Hurricane had a wide track undercarriage. This made it easier to land on a grass airfield or the deck of an aircraft carrier. The thick wing made the Hurricane a steady gun platform. The fabric fuselage was relatively easy to repair. During the Second World War, 4,000 damaged Hurricanes were put back into service. 60% of all Hurricanes that crashed on British soil were put back into service.
The RAF Victory fly-past over London in September 1945 was composed entirely of Spitfires. But the Hurricane played a vital role in Britain’s victory.