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.

The Hurricane Mk.IIC (Hurricane Mk.IIA Series 2) was a Hurricane Mk.IIA Series 1 equipped with new and slightly longer propeller spinner, and fully replaced the machine-gun armament with four 20 mm (0.79 in) Hispano Mk.II cannons, two per wing. Hurricane IIA Series 2 became the Mk.IIC in June 1941, using a slightly modified wing. The new wings also included a hardpoint for a 500 or 250 lb (230 or 110 kg) bomb and, later in 1941, fuel tanks. By then performance was inferior to the latest German fighters, and the Hurricane changed to the ground-attack role, sometimes referred to as the Hurribomber. The Mk.also served as a night fighter and intruder with about three quarters converted to fighter bombers. There were 4,711 IIcs built by Hawker between February 1941 and July 1944.

Pictured here is a 1:48 scale replica of a RAF Hawker Hurricane Mk. IIc fighter that was piloted by Flight Lieutenant Karel Kuttlelwasher, who was attached to No.1 Squadron, then deployed to RAF Tangmere, England, during 1942. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 10-inches
Length: 8-inches

Release Date: August 2022

Historical Account: "Rhubarb" - At the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, No.1 squadron was deployed to France as part of the RAF Advanced Air Striking Force. In October, it flew over enemy territory for the first time and soon claimed its first victory, shooting down a Dornier Do 17 on October 31st. Further successes were made during the Phoney War, until the Battle of France erupted in May 1940. Within a week the squadron was bombed out of its base at Berry-au-Bac, north-west of Paris. A series of retreats followed, ending only when the squadron evacuated from France on June 18th, with a return to Tangmere on June 23rd.

In August 1940, the squadron entered the Battle of Britain and was heavily engaged until September 9th, when the squadron was transferred to No. 12 Group and sent to RAF Wittering to refit, rest and recuperate.

It returned to No. 11 Group in early 1941 and was employed in fighter sweeps and bomber escort duties. In February, it began "Rhubarb" (low-level sweeps over occupied territory) and night flying missions, and was re-equipped with the Hurricane IIA. In this period its pilots included Karel Kuttelwascher DFC, who was the RAF's highest-scoring night intruder pilot and highest-scoring Free Czechoslovak pilot.