World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
29 Aug 2010 08:45:05 AM

The last Hurricane version to be built was
the Mk IV. This version was a ground attack
model.
The Mk IV carried 350lb of added armor for the pilot, engine and featured a redesigned
armored belly radiator. The Hurricane had a
'universal wing' that could carry 2x303 MG's
and wiring for 2x40mm cannons or 8x60lb rockets, 1x500lb bomb and 2x250lb bombs in
underwing racks. Standard armament was
8x303 machine guns some aircraft were fitted with 12x303 machine guns!

Did you know...

During the Battle of Britain 1,720 Hurricanes
took part, and shotdown 80% of all German
aircraft lost. It never had the glamor of the
Spitfire and its unfair.

The Hawker Hurricane served for a few more
years after WWII. The RAF retired the last
Hurricanes in January 1947.

2.  Bill says:
15 Dec 2010 07:18:38 PM

Hurricane fighters shotdown between 60% to 80% of German aircraft lost during the Battle of Britain. Thats about 1,593 out of
2,739 claimed.
The Spitfire went after the Messerschmitt 109s, and the Hurricanes went after the bombers, but I'm sure the Hurricane pilots had combat with the 109s

Another role for the Hurricane was escort
fighter for convoys. Older model fighters
were converted to be catapult-launched known
as "Hurricats" once launched to fight off the
Fw 200 Condor or other Luftwaffe aircraft the
pilot couldn't land, if the fighter was beyond landfall the pilot had to find the convoy bailout, or make a water landing, and hope to be rescued.

The Hurricane was flown by both the Allies and Axis forces. 14,500 were built, 12 are
in airworthy condition, others are in museums worldwide.
One Hurrican registered in the U.K. now flies
as G-HURRI.