Hurricane

Overshadowed by the Spitfire in popular appeal, the Hurricane as this book demonstrates, made a greater and more widespread contribution to Britain's war effort in the early and touch-and-go years of the Second World War than its more glamourised partner.
The Hurricane helped to save Britain from invasion in the Battle of Britain of 1940 in great numbers. (At the height of the battle in August, 1940, Hurricanes equipped 32
squadrons as against 19 Spitfire squadrons). Its pilots scored more victories than all other combined air and ground defences.
In the critical early part of the war the Hurricane operated overseas unaccompanied by the Spitfire. These operations provide some of the most enthralling episodes of the book.
They include the desperate, ill-fated efforts to save Norway after the German invasion of 1940 at a time when they could least be spared from the defence of Britain; the
despatch to Russia of a Hurricane Wing to operate within the Arctic Circle in defence of northern Russia; the defence of Malta; operations in the Western Desert and Iraq; the defence of Singapore, Sumatra and Java and Ceylon.
Attempts to cover the retreat in Burma were also part of hopelessly outnumbered bids to hold back the Japanese sweep through south-east Asia. In this period they also played a vital part at sea, notably operating as Catafighters or Hurricats in defence of Russia-bound and other convoys, pilots being catapulted from CAM-ships (Catapult Armed Merchantmen) with a one-way ticket. It is no exaggeration that, in the absence of the Hurricane in the numbers which Hawker's private venture decision of 1934 made possible, the Battle of Britain would have been lost. Succeeding campaigns and ultimate victory could not have been possible.


by Edward Bishop
Published by Airlife 1986 1st edition. 155pp illustrated, index, appendix. 19x25 near mint, including d/j.





Note:
"Long" descriptions, where shown, may have been taken from the book's dust jacket notes, and as such are relevant to the date of publication (e.g. any references to "new edition" "previously unpublished photographs" etc.) and not the present.

other titles which may be of interest:
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Hawker Hurricane £13.00 find out more

Hurricanes Over Tobruk £17.00 find out more

Hurricane at War £12.50 find out more