Royal Air Force 249 Squadron. Hawker
Hurricane of No.249 Squadron from HMS Ark Royal, shown in aviation art
prints available from Cranston Fine Arts the aviation art company, part of
the Royal Air Force squadron's history in aviation art.
Hurricane Pilot of 249 Squadron Squadron Leader
P G Leggett Flying his Hurricane off Ark Royal, Leggett joined
249 Squadron in Malta in June 1941 and was in action that same afternoon.
In July lie increased his Battle of Britain score by shooting down a
Macchi C.200 but was shot down in December, bailing out with minor
injuries. He was posted to the Desert Air Force just before EI Alemain. An
RA17VR pilot, Leggett had flown both Hurricanes and Defiants before his
posting to Malta. He stayed on in the RAF commanding 73 Squadron on
Vampires, retiring in 1958.
Royal Air Force Fighter, the Hawker
Hurricane had a top speed of 320mph, at 18,200 feet and 340mph at 17,500,
ceiling of 34,200 and a range of 935 miles. The Hurricane was armed with
eight fixed wing mounted .303 browning machine guns in the Mark I and
twelve .303 browning's in the MKIIB in the Hurricane MKIIC it had four
20mm cannon.
All time classic fighter the Hurricane was designed in
1933-1934, the first prototype flew in June 1936 and a contract for 600
for the Royal Air Force was placed. The first production model flew ion
the 12th October 1937 and 111 squadron of the Royal Air Force received the
first Hurricanes in January 1938. By the outbreak of World war two the
Royal Air Force had 18 operational squadrons of Hurricanes. During the
Battle of Britain a total of 1715 Hurricanes took part, (which was more
than the rest of the aircraft of the Royal air force put together) and
almost 75% of the Victories during the Battle of Britain
went to hurricane pilots. The Hawker Hurricane was used in all
theatres during World war two, and in many roles. in total 14,533
Hurricanes were built.
Malta Relief by Tim
Fisher. Hurricanes of 249 squadron (RAF) departing off HMS Ark Royal in June 1941.
