Osprey Aircraft of the Aces 18 : Hurricane Aces 1939-1940

The limited endurance enjoyed by single-seat fighters on both sides at the start of World War 2 meant that Fighter Command and the Jagdwaffe rarely met during the eight months of the 'Phoney War'. Although pleased to have had the chance to engage German bombers on their own terms in the final months of 1939, most RAF fighter pilots realised that the true test of their mettle would only come when they finally encountered their German counterparts, and their preferred weapon of war - the Bf 109E. The Hawker Hurricane was the RAF's first monoplane fighter, and it dragged the air force into a position where it could defend Britain in its '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. Pilots like 'Cobber' Kain had achieved impressive scores in the face of overwhelming Luftwaffe forces, and although the RAF lost no less than 386 Hurricanes during the Blitzkrieg, it gave many pilots valuable experience. Hawker fighters outnumbered Spitfires during the Battle of Britain by three to one, and downed far more aircraft. Overseas, a handful of pilots put up stiff resistance against Germany's Italian ally in Libya and Egypt, and also over Malta. Text by Tony Holmes with illustrations by Keith Fretwell.

Contents

• The First Ace
• 'Phoney War'
• Blitzkrieg
• The Battle of Britain
• Malta and North Africa
• Appendices