Hawker Hurricane

The Hawker Hurricane is a fighter design from the 1930s which was used extensively by the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain.

Foreign use

The Hawker Hurricane, both during and after the war, would serve in the air forces of many countries, some "involuntarily" - as in the case of Hurricanes which landed accidentally in neutral Ireland and were immediately impounded by the authorities, followed by their entry into service with the Irish Air Corps at Baldonnel. Hurricanes also joined the ranks of the Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres (FAFL) - that is, the Free French air force - fighting in North Africa between June 1940 and May 1943. The Hurricanes, like all FAFL aircraft, sported the Cross of Lorraine on the fuselage, instead of the roundel that had been in use since 1914, in order to distinguish them from those aircraft flying for the Vichy French air force. Some of these squadrons were also given RAF designations; for example, the Groupe de Chasse Alsace was also known as No.341 Squadron. New Zealand squadrons within the Royal Air Force, No. 486 Squadron RNZAF and No. 488 Squadron RNZAF used the type, the latter handing it's remaining Hurricanes over to the Royal New Zealand Air Force following the fall of Singapore, where some apparently ended their days as airfield decoys. The Royal Canadian Air Force equipped several squadrons with the type, including No. 1 Squadron RCAF, which flew in the battle of Britain. Belgium bought the Hurricane, but most of it's aircraft were lost during the German invasion - one formation being destroyed single handedly by Adolf Galland. Hurricanes were licence built in Yugoslavia. A large number of Hurricanes were gifted to the Soviet Union. The Luftwaffe operated some captured Hurricanes for training and education purposes. Finland bought 12 Hurricanes at the end of the Winter War, but lost two during the transit flight. The planes didn't receive much aerial victories (only 5 and 1/2) when hostilities begun again on 25.6.1941, and their use was quite limited, partially because they had worn out when replacement parts were scarce during the Interim Peace (13.3.1940-25.6.1941) and during the new war. At least one Hurricane was captured from the Soviets during the war and flown by the Finnish Air Force.

Related Topics:
Ireland - Irish Air Corps - ''Forces Aériennes Françaises Libres'' - 1940 - 1943 - Cross of Lorraine - Roundel - 1914 - Vichy - New Zealand - Royal Air Force - No. 486 Squadron RNZAF - No. 488 Squadron RNZAF - Royal New Zealand Air Force - Royal Canadian Air Force - No. 1 Squadron RCAF - Battle of Britain - Belgium - Adolf Galland - Yugoslavia - Luftwaffe - Finland - Winter War - Finnish Air Force

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In later years, some production shifted to other groups like Canada Car and Foundry (where engineer Elsie MacGill became known as "Queen of the Hurricanes") and Gloster, while Hawker continued production right up until 1944. In all some 14,000 Hurricanes and Sea Hurricanes were produced.

Related Topics:
Elsie MacGill - Gloster

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Specifications (variant described)

General characteristics

• Crew:
• Length: 31 ft 4 in.
• Wingspan: 40 ft
• Height: 13 ft
• Wing area: 258 ft²
• Weight
• Empty: kg ( lb)
• Loaded: kg ( lb)
• Maximum takeoff: kg ( lb)
• Powerplant: Merlin Mk II

Performance

• Maximum speed: km/h ( mph)
• Range: km ( miles)
• Service ceiling: m ( ft)
• Rate of climb: m/min ( ft/min)
• Wing loading: kg/m² ( lb/ft²)
• Power/weight:'