Hawker Hurricane MkI Aircraft

The Hawker Hurricane… - known as “the Defender of the Realm”.

 

This Mark 1 replica - originally served as a pole-mounted gate guardian at RAF Coltishall – in Norwich - from 1989 until the Station’s closure in 2006. It then served the same role at RAF High Wycombe – in Buckinghamshire - until being replaced in 2014. She is owned by Paul Lomax – one of the Hangar42 volunteers – and came here in Spring 2015 - being named “Diane”. Diane has been carefully and painstakingly restored and modified – including working lights. She is now painted to represent aircraft Z-J-L - of 96 Squadron – tail number V-7-7-5-2 - which was based here - at RAF Squires Gate - in 1941 and fought in the Battle of Britain. While being flown by Sergeant McNair, this aircraft is credited with shooting down a German Heinkel 1-1-1, though sadly - Z-J-L was shot down on operations, just a few months later.

 

Designed by Sidney Cam in 1935 – and entering service in 1937 - the Hurricane brought many technological improvements to fighters. Before the Hurricane - most fighters were two-wing bi-planes, with fixed wheels. The Hurricane was the first monoplane in the RAF to have retractable undercarriage - and an enclosed cockpit. The rear fuselage - behind the cockpit, - appears to be made up of many long strips – which is actually Spruce wood – covered in Irish linen – and painted with a liquid called ‘Dope’. As the dope dried - it caused the linen to shrink, making it very strong. The front of the Hurricane - however - appears smooth, because it is made of aluminium metal. The hardy build of this aircraft meant even when damaged in combat – many managed to get back to Britain with their pilots unharmed.

 

The Hurricane was one of the first aircraft to be powered by the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine - delivering just over 1,000 horse-power. Later this was developed to 1,800 horse-power. In front of the aircraft you can view the merlin engine.  This original Merlin was recovered from its 1940 crash site on the Isle of Whight.  This engine has the notariety, of powering the first Hawker Hurricane shot down in the Battle of Britain. You can see the impact holes from the rounds that disabled the aircraft.

The Hurricane was designed to carry the same armament as the Spitfire – eight Browning machine-guns, four in each wing. The muzzles of the four guns are hidden behind the red squares on the leading edge of the wing – these were to prevent moisture, cold air and dirt ingress - before firing.

The next mark carried four 20 millimetre cannon which became very successful against tanks and some later marks also carried eight 40 pound rocket projectiles, giving the fighter as much firepower as the broadside from a cruiser battle-ship.

The Hurricane was a versatile aircraft – taking on tasks including cross-channel offensive operations, anti-shipping, bomber escort, intruder and night-fighter roles. The role of an intruder - penetrating deep into enemy air space, to disrupt operations - is a difficult one - but one which was well suited to the Hurricane. This was mainly due to her rugged design and ability to take advantage of the cover provided by night-time and meteorological conditions.

 There was also the ‘Hurricat’ version, a specially adapted Hurricane that was launched at sea – from the side of a ship. The threat here was from U-boats being guided by a long-range German maritime patrol aircraft; the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor. The ships in a convoy could see the patrolling German aircraft on radar, but unless they had an aircraft carrier - could do nothing about it. A ramp catapult was developed - to allow a fully loaded Hurricane to be dispatched - mid-ocean, thousands of miles from land. The Fw 200 pilot would know there was no aircraft carrier in the convoy, and being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, they would feel safe from air attack. Surprise surprise - a Hurricaine would appear from nowhere! The Hurricane pilot would have to bale out – as no landing was possible – and the aircraft would be lost in the sea - but not before frightening off – or engaging the Condor looking for Allied ships.

 

Many famous pilots flew the Hurricane – including Peter Townsend - equerry to King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II - and who notably had a romance with Princess Margaret. Also, Douglas Bader - the famous double-amputee ace pilot - Sailor Malan, Ginger Lacey, and Robert Stanford Tuck.

 

One day - when there was no flying because of the weather - a lone German bomber was plotted flying towards Cardiff. Robert Stanford-Tuck volunteered to intercept the German. The weather was atrocious, so bad that Tuck knew he would not be able to land at an airfield, so would have to bale out. There were no other aircraft up that day - due to the weather. When the light began to fail, and with worsening visibility - he was only able to get a shot off at extreme range. The bomber crew panicked, not expecting anyone else out in such conditions, and jettisoned their bomb-load on open fields - instead of the city they were hoping to bomb. Unfortunately, when the bombs landed – a single soldier was killed – and incredibly - it happened to be Robert Stanford-Tucks’ newly acquired brother-in-law.

In another foray, Stanford-Tuck’s aircraft was damaged. Unable to lower the wheels - he decided to belly land on a nearby field and head for a hedge – which he thought would help reduce his speed. Unfortunately - behind the hedge was a dry-stone wall and the aircraft went from 140 mph - to a dead stop. Tuck awoke - with only minor scratches - testament to the rugged build of this plane.

By the end of the war – some 14,500 Hurricanes had been built, some being sent directly to the Soviet Union. Only seventeen are flying today, although there are many more in museums around the world.

 

In 1939 - each Hurricane cost only £4,000, £263,000 today – compared to £12,000 for a new Spitfire, £789,000 today. And – having shot down more German planes - to real enthusiasts – the Hurricane is considered as - the aircraft that won the Battle of Britain!

 

To help support the upkeep and maintenance of Hangar 42 aircraft - we welcome a donation of 3 pounds by texting - HANGAR42 – to 7-0-3-3-1