Meet the new and improved Hurricane!
The RAF had a new kid on the block, some 86 years ago this week– just in time for the Battle of Britain.
While the original Hawker Hurricane entered service in 1937, the more advanced Mk.IIA prototype was a “war baby” and first flew on 11 June 1940, with squadron production beginning in September 1940.
Note these are early Mk.IIAs with the then-experimental quad 20mm cannon fits, two in each wing. (NARA 44266494)
The main difference between the type and the original Mk.I series was that it was stretched 4.5 inches to accommodate a larger (1,260hp) liquid-cooled Merlin XX V-12 piston engine with a two-speed supercharger instead of the 1,030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk II/III. While the difference in speed was negligible (only about 20mph more), the longer fuselage shifted the center of gravity and made it more stable. Further, its heavier “universal wing” allowed a more robust armament fit, including 20mm (and later even 40mm) cannons.
Hawker built 418 Mk.IIAs, while the Gloster Aircraft Company delivered 33.
Subsequent Mk.II sub-variants (such as IIB, IIC, and IID) were delivered through 1944, with the chief differences being in armament to include so-called “Hurribomber” variants. In all, 4,710 assorted MK IIs were produced, about a third of the Hurricane’s total run of 14,583.
In fact, the last Hawker-built Hurricane was a Mark II variant. Shortly after its first flight on 22 July 1944, it was dubbed “The Last of the Many” in a call back to Churchill’s “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” remarks from the Battle of Britain.
The last Hurricane built by the Hawker Aircraft Company, Mark IIC, PZ865 “The Last of the Many” was decorated with banners and pennants on its completion at Langley, Berkshire. PZ865 was bought off the original Ministry of Aircraft Production contract by Hawkers and was retained as a communications and test aircraft. It continues to fly with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight. IWM (CH 13673)
While the last Mk.II Hurricane was retired from squadron service in 1951 (at the time with Portugal), they have proved luckier than their sisters in old age. Of the 50 or so preserved Hurricanes, more than half (27) are Mk.IIs, including at least three that are still airworthy– including The Last of the Many.