The Hurricane Pocket Manual

All marks in service 1939–45

The Hurricane Pocket Manual cover

Description

The Hurricane Pocket Manual collates authentic period sources including pilot's notes and other Air Ministry publications to provide a unique guide to this iconic aircraft.

The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the RAF. Although overshadowed by the Spitfire, during the Battle of Britain the Hurricane accounted for 60% of the RAF's air victories in the battle, and served in all the major theatres of the Second World War.

The 1930s design evolved through several versions and adaptations, resulting in a series of aircraft that acted as interceptor-fighters, fighter-bombers (also called 'Hurribombers'), and ground support aircraft. Further versions known as the Sea Hurricane had modifications that enabled operation from ships. Some were converted as catapult-launched convoy escorts, known as 'Hurricats'. More than 14,583 Hurricanes were built by the end of 1944 (including at least 800 converted to Sea Hurricanes and some 1,400 built in Canada.

The book collates a variety of pamphlets and manuals on the plane that were produced throughout the war for the benefit of pilots and others associated with the aircraft.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Significant Hurricane Variants

I Design and trials
Specification F.5/34 Single Seater Fighter, 16 November 1934
Trial of the Hawker Monoplane, F.36/34, no. K-5083, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Martlesham Heath, April 1936
Specification 15/36, Hawker 'Hurricane' – development, production 20 July 1936
Tests on the Operational Characteristics of Hurricane Aircraft, Sqdn Ldr J. W. Gillan, 21 February 1938

II Pilot Notes
Pilot's Notes: Hurricane I Aeroplane Merlin II or III Engine

III Tactical
Air Fighting Development Unit, Report No. 31, Tactical Trials with Hurricane Aircraft fitted to carry bombs, 7 August 1941

IV Operations
111 Squadron, Operations Record Book, September 1940
Fighter Command Combat Report, 12 Group, 9 September 1940
Sqdn Ldr Douglas Bader's Flying Log, 7–19 September 1940
Report on the operations of No. 6 Sqdn RAF in the Eastern Desert, June 1942, Hurricane Mark IIDs operating as 'tank-busters'

Index

Product details

Published Jan 25 2018
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 144
ISBN 9781472834287
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 30 line artworks and black and white photographs
Series General Military
Short code GNM
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Martin Robson

Dr Martin Robson is a lecturer in defence studies…

Resources

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