The first British warplane, the Hawker Hurricane, shot down more enemy aircraft than any other fighter. It was the true aviation hero of the Battle of Britain. Often overshadowed by the legend and aerial heroics of the Spitfire, the Hurricane was the authentic workhorse of aviation history. Stable, durable, less expensive to build - and much easier to repair and maintain than the Spitfire - the 'Hurri', as it was affectionately called, proved to be the most formidable fighter aircraft in the air battle - at a time when Britain's survival was more critical than ever.

In 1940, the Hurricane made its mark: more than half of the 1,200 German aircraft shot down in the war were destroyed by Hurricanes. At that time, the RAF could call on 32 squadrons of Hurricanes and 19 Spitfires: the Hurricane was, in fact, the dominant British fighter aircraft, gaining a reputation as an aircraft that could take more than a few hits from the enemy - and keep flying. The Spit was the aerial thoroughbred, excellent until damaged. The Hurri was much more robust.

Experienced pilots came from all over the world; one of them from the RAF 80 Squadron would later become a very famous author - Roald Dahl. Using documents, letters, and testimonies, this is the untold historical story of the Hawker Hurricane and the lives of the men and women who flew, helped design and build, adapted, and worked behind the scenes of the 'Hurri', contributing in various ways to its remarkable success as a World War II legend.

Pages: 256, Dimensions: 12.9x12.9cm