The Hawker Hurricane was the first monoplane to join the Royal Air Force as a fighter aircraft, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 300-mph in level flight. Often compared with the sleek-looking Supermarine Spitfire, the Hurricane, in actuality, shouldered the brunt of the fighting during the "Battle of Britain", equipping more than three-fifths of the RAF's Fighter Command squadrons. When it lost its edge as a dogfighter in 1941, the Hurricane took on a number of other roles, including ground attack missions and maritime combat air patrols.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a RAF Hawker Hurricane Mk. 11C fighter that was piloted by Squadron Leader D. du Vivier, then deployed to RAF Acklington, England, during 1942. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-inches
Length: 5-inches

Release Date: June 2012

Historical Account: "Live Long and Prosper" - Daniel Le Roy Du Vivier was born in Amersfoort, Holland in January 1915. After gaining a degree in business, he joined the Belgian Air Force flying against the Germans during the opening stages of the assault upon the Low Countries. When Belgium fell he escaped to England and flew with the RAF, shooting down a single aircraft during the Battle of Britain.

After being injured towards the end of the battle, Du Vivier went on to gain numerous awards and recognitions for his gallantry while leading attacks upon enemy positions in France. By this time the Hurricane had ceased to be a truly capable front line fighter in the face of opponents such as the Bf109F, but it still packed a hefty punch from its four 20mm cannons.

During the Dieppe operation, Du Vivier led his squadron four times on various different attacks, each time returning with damage to his own machine. It was while flying this airplane that Du Vivier scored his fifth and final kill, a Ju 88 over the North Sea; he was however hit and wounded in the action. The machine displays his various affiliations, from the Belgian flag to the black and white checkers of No. 43 Squadron, RAF.