Hawker Hurricane The History of a Legend

The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft that played a crucial role in the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was one of the main British fighter aircraft during the early stages of World War II and saw extensive service during the Battle of Britain in 1940, where it played a vital role in the defence against German air raids. Designed by Sydney Camm, the Hawker Hurricane had a more traditional design compared to the sleeker Supermarine Spitfire. It featured a fabric-covered frame and a metal wing, and it was powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. Armed with eight .303 inch Browning machine guns, with later versions of the aircraft equipped with twelve machine guns or a combination of machine guns and cannons. The Hurricane went through various modifications and upgrades during its production. It served not only as a fighter but also in other roles such as ground-attack and naval operations. The Hurricane, largely replaced by more advanced aircraft later in the war, continued to serve in various roles, including in North Africa, the Mediterranean, and the Eastern Front. Some were also used for reconnaissance and training.

Mike Lepine is a Sunday Times No1 best-selling author. He has written some thirty-five books and has been published throughout the world from America to Finland, and from France to Japan. He has also worked extensively in television in programming as diverse as the arts, consumer rights and comedy. For many years the Editor of the Aviation & Military Video Club, Mike was instrumental with DD Home Entertainment in bringing much rare archival film footage to the public for the very first time.