The hawker hurricane: the secret hero of the battle of britain

Jasper H, Year 11 writes...

The Second World War’s Battle of Britain, which lasted from July to October 1940, was incredibly important. The RAF prevented an invasion of the UK and marked a turning point in the war, by defending the skies over Britain against the German Luftwaffe. Although the Battle of Britain is most frequently associated with the iconic Spitfire, the Hurricane MkI actually played a significant part in the RAF’s triumph and might be regarded as its unsung hero.

The Hurricane MkI was the backbone of the RAF’s fighter force during the Battle of Britain. With almost 3,000 constructed by the start of the campaign, it made up the majority of the fighter aircraft available to the RAF. While the Spitfire was faster and nimbler, the Hurricane was tougher, more reliable, and could withstand a lot of punishment, making it useful in dogfights against Luftwaffe

Messerschmitt Bf 109s and Focke-Wulf Fw 190s.

The Hurricane’s tough construction enabled it to take heavy damage while remaining aloft. Its metal structure, as opposed to the Spitfire’s wooden chassis, made it less prone to catching fire in combat. Furthermore, the engine of the Hurricane was installed on a steel frame, making it less vulnerable to hostile fire.

The armament of the Hurricane was also essential in the Battle of Britain. Its machine guns were positioned in four pairs, two pairs in each wing. This allowed it to fire at a high rate and with greater accuracy, making it a powerful weapon against Luftwaffe aircraft.

Another significant feature of the Hurricane was its capacity to be mass-produced in a short period of time. The Hurricane was simpler and less expensive to produce than the Spitfire, and it could be built in bigger quantities. This enabled the RAF to quickly replace any losses, which was important during the Battle of Britain’s heavy fighting.

The Hurricane’s kill record reflects its effectiveness in the Battle of Britain. With over 1,700 verified kills, the Hurricane claimed more enemy aircraft destroyed than any other British fighter during the battle. In comparison, the Spitfire was responsible for almost 1,500 confirmed kills.

The RAF’s high brass recognised the Hurricane’s services to the Battle of Britain. During the battle, Air Chief Marshal Sir Hugh Dowding, the commander-in-chief of RAF Fighter Command, lauded the Hurricane for its part in the victory. While the Spitfire gained greater publicity and media coverage, he stated that the Hurricane was the “backbone” of the RAF’s fighter force.

Jasper H, Year 11 writes...

During the Cold War, the North American X-10 - also called the Navaho missile - was a ground-breaking intercontinental cruise missile created in the USA. The predecessor to contemporary intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), it was one of the first long-range guided missiles ever made.

The National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), the forerunner of NASA, and the United States Air Force collaborated on the development of the Navaho missile in the early 1950s. With a combination of jet and rocket engines, the missile was built to be fired from the US and flown across the Atlantic Ocean to Soviet Union targets.

The Navaho missile’s development cost amounted to more than $3 billion, which is more than $30 billion in today’s dollars. One of the biggest missiles ever produced, it was over 69 feet long and weighed more than 86,000