Squadron Leader Douglas Bader (centre) and fellow pilots of No. 242 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant Eric Ball and Pilot Officer Willie McKnight, admire the nose art on Bader's Hawker Hurricane at Duxford, October 1940. CH1412

The Hawker Hurricane was a British single-seat fighter aircraft designed and built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd. in the 1930s. It was used extensively by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the Second World War, particularly during the Battle of Britain in 1940. Powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, the Hurricane had a top speed of around 340 mph. It was armed with eight .303 machine guns and could carry up to 2,000 lbs of bombs or rockets. The Hurricane played a vital role in the Battle of Britain, where it was responsible for shooting down more enemy aircraft than any other British fighter. It was also used in other theatres of war, including North Africa and the Pacific. In all, over 14,000 Hurricanes were built, making it one of the most successful fighter aircraft of all time. Today, only a handful of Hurricanes remain in flying condition, but they are still remembered as a symbol of British bravery and determination during the Second World War.