History of 46 squadron, Royal Air Force, in aviation art prints. including
Hawker Hurricane art prints by Keith Woodcock, Moment of truth.. These aviation
art prints of 46 squadron are available from Aviation art prints a subsidiary of
Cranston fine arts, the Military and Aviation art print company
Hurricane Pilot of 46 Squadron. Air Cheif
Marshal Sir Kenneth Cross KCB, CBE, DSO, DFC Born October 4th
1911. Kenneth Cross survived the sinking of the aircraft carrier HMS
Glorious in June 1940, when his No.46 Sqn Hurricane was onboard. He spent
much of the war commading Hurricanes in Africa, involved in the Crusader
offensive in 1941, returning home in early 1944. He died on the 18th of
June 2003.
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.
Moment of Truth by Keith Woodcock The print depicts the moment as the first Hurricane of
46 squadron of the Royal Air Force, without arrestor hooks or wires the
squadron was led by Sqd Ldt Kenneth Cross as he approaches the
ill-fated carrier HMS Glorious. during the evacuation of Norway in June
1940. 'Bing' later said, "we showed them they were wrong". The
Fleet Air Arm pilots were delighted saying, "Marvelous bloody
marvelous, now we'll get them too." All had landed safely by 4.30am
on June 8th. These superb prints have been co signed by Sqd ldr
Kenneth cross
