Hawker Hurricane IIc – PZ865, Jimmy Whalen, BBMF 2016 1/48

Hobby Master 1/48 scale HA8651 Hawker Hurricane IIc PZ865, BBMF, 2016. Painted to represent HW840 / EG-S that was piloted by Canadian Flt J. Whalen DFC, SEA Command in 1944. Production run of 800 models.

Length 8 inches Wingspan 10 inches

The Hawker Hurricane was the first British single-engine fighter and the first single wing aircraft with retractable landing gear as well as an enclosed cockpit and 8 machine guns. The Hurricane went into operational service in December 1937 with the RAF 111 Squadron. The Hurricane is usually over looked as a major player in the BoB because of the Spitfire but 80% of the 1,792 German aircraft shot down were because of the Hurricane. There were 14,533 Hurricanes produced in all variants.

Hurricane IIC PZ865 was the last of 14,533 Hurricanes to be built and was given the inscription “Last of the Many” painted on both sides. The aircraft was kept by Hawker and later painted dark blue with gold lettering registered as G-AMAU. In 1972 the aircraft was given to the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF Coningsby and painted as JX-E “Night Reaper”. In 2010 it was once again overhauled and flies as HW840 / EG-S that was piloted by Canadian Flt J. Whalen DFC, South East Asia Command in 1944 .