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2017 marks the 80th anniversary of the remarkable Hawker Hurricane formally entering service. The RAF's first monoplane fighter, it dragged the air force into a position where it could defend Britain in her 'hour of need'. Prior to the Battle of Britain, a number of squadrons equipped with the fighter had seen action firstly in the 'Phoney War', and then during the disastrous campaign in France. Even then with the odds so heavily stacked against the Hurricane pilots, impressive scores were achieved. Indeed, the Hurricane was the true workhorse of the RAF. It came into its own in the hot summer months of 1940 valiantly defending the skies above Britain. Outnumbering Spitfires three to one, the Hurricane also downed far more enemy aircraft. Without the obvious elegance of the Me 109 or the Spitfire, the Hurricane was nonetheless beloved by its pilots for its ability to simultaneously take a battering and inflict serious damage from its remarkably stable gun platform. Despite the intervening decades the Hurricane is still well loved to this day. Often overshadowed by the Spitfire, recent years has seen a resurgence in interest in the plucky 'Hurry'.
This remarkable new book reveals the Hurricane in all its glory--from fascinating first-hand accounts from the men who flew her to the truly breath-taking images from John Dibbs of the Hurricanes still in flight today. This lavish, fully illustrated edition is a must-have for all fans of aviation history.
