Hawker Hurricane Mk I – P3109, 1 Sqn RAF, Wittering 1939

Corgi Aviation 1/72 scale AA32012: Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3109/JX-T of 1 Sqn RAF, Wittering in 1939. Limited Edition of 1,150 models.

Length 5.25 inches Wingspan 6.75 inches

Responsible for destroying more enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain than the combined total of the rest of Britain’s defences, the Hawker Hurricane was the workhorse aircraft of Fighter Command’s defiant resistance against the Luftwaffe. The Hurricane was relatively simple to fly and even easier to maintain and could be produced much quicker than the all-metal Spitfire, which was crucial as replacement aircraft would be needed in large numbers.

Based on the Fury biplane and designed by Sydney Camm as a monoplane fighter, the Hurricane was first flown on November 6th, 1935. With its wide-set landing gear, easy handling, reliability, and stable gun platform, the Hurricane was suitable for a variety of different roles such as intruder, ground strafing and night fighter. Steel-tube construction meant cannon shells could pass right through the wood and fabric covering without exploding. The Hurricane underwent many modifications during its lifetime, including an upgraded Merlin engine and interchangeable multi-purpose wings, staging twelve 7.7mm guns and two 40mm anti-tank guns and carrying two 500lb bombs.