Hurricane: Hawker's Fighter Legend

Description

2017 marks the 80th anniversary of the remarkable Hawker Hurricane formally entering service. The RAF's first monoplane fighter, it dragged the Air Force into a position where it could defend Britain in her 'hour of need'. The true workhorse of the RAF, the Hurricane came into its own in the hot summer months of 1940 valiantly defending the skies above Britain. Outnumbering Spitfires three to one, the Hurricane also downed far more enemy aircraft. Without the obvious elegance of the Me 109 or the Spitfire, the Hurricane was nonetheless beloved by its pilots for its ability to simultaneously take a battering and inflict serious damage from its remarkably stable gun platform. This stunning new book reveals the Hurricane in all its glory - from fascinating first-hand accounts from the men who flew her to the truly breathtaking images from John Dibbs of the Hurricanes still in flight today. This lavish, fully illustrated edition is a must-have for all fans of aviation history.

Promotion info

Published to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the Hawker Hurricane entering service with the RAF, this stunning photographic history reveals the true contribution the Hurricane made to the war effort alongside striking aerial photography of the Hurricanes that still grace our skies today.

Author description

John Dibbs is unquestionably the world's premier aerial photographer, having flown over 1,100 aerial sorties in 125 different types. John has published 17 books including the acclaimed series of Flying Legends publications. His award winning work has graced hundreds of magazine covers over the last 25 years. Raised in London, his interest in aviation was passed on by his father who grew up during the Battle of Britain near Northolt aerodrome. John now lives in Seattle, and is serving on the Board of the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs. His work can be viewed at www.planepicture.com. Osprey Aviation Editor since 1989, Tony Holmes is a native of Fremantle, Western Australia. Responsible for devising the Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft, Elite Units and Duel series, Tony has also written more than 30 books for Osprey over the past 26 years, including the original Spitfire - Flying Legend with John Dibbs in 1996. Gordon Riley was introduced to the world of vintage aviation thanks to growing up with a father who had been a Lancaster pilot during World War II. His interest in preserved vintage aircraft came from visits to the Skyfame Museum at Staverton and the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden in the 1960s; he later became one of the founding members of the Midland Aircraft Preservation Society. Having cut his teeth with short articles in "Control Column" he became an editorial assistant on "Aviation News" in 1972 and remained there for a year. He published Britain's first magazine dedicated to vintage aircraft - the aptly titled "Vintage Aircraft" magazine which he edited from 1976 - 1986 as well as compiling the "Vintage Aircraft Directory" and "Aircraft Museums Directory". Following his monumental two volume work "Spitfire Survivors - Then and Now", co-written with Peter R Arnold and the late Graham Trant, Gordon carried out extensive research which culminated in the publication of "Hawker Hurricane Survivors" in 2015.

Table of contents

Foreword by Wing Commander Tom Neil, DFC*, AFC, AE Preface In the Beginning Chapter One Battle of France Survivor Chapter Two 'Blue Peter' Chapter Three 'Fighting 56' Chapter Four 'In All Things First' Chapter Five 'County of London' Squadron Chapter Six Bader's 'Dogsbody' Chapter Seven R 4118 Chapter Eight 'Warsaw-Kosciuszko' Hurricane Chapter Nine 'Eagle Squadron' Chapter Ten Malta Defender Chapter Eleven Hurricane with a Hook Chapter Twelve 'Hurribomber' Chapter Thirteen M k XII Chapter Fourteen Finnish Storm Chapter Fifteen Hurricane Spectacular Chapter Sixteen Hurricane Survivors Appendix: Hawker Restorations Ltd Bibliography Index