Hurricane & Spitfire
Hawker Hurricane Mk I LK-A, L1630, 87 Squadron &
Supermarine Spitfire Mk I AZ-D, X4036, 234 Squadron.
Scale 1:72 Hawker Hurricane Mk I Wingspan 6.66" (169 mm)
Weight 9 ozs (259 grams)
Supermarine Spitfire Mk I Wingspan 6.25" (156 mm)
Weight 7.25 ozs (212 grams)
Base size 12.28" x 8.8" (312mm x 225mm) (No. 14)
Limited edition of 60 only Total number of models produced 60
Hawker Hurricane Mk I LK-A, L1630, 87 Squadron
Part of the original batch of
20 two-bladed Hurricane Is delivered to No 87 Sqn at Debden between
July and September 1938 as replacements for the unit's Gladiator Is, this
fabric-winged machine was
sent to the continent (along with the rest of the squadron) just 24 hours
after Britain declared war on
Germany.Having survived eight months of relative inactivity in northern
France, L1630 enjoyed ten
days of near-constant fighting during the Blitzkrieg before finally being
abandoned by No 87 Sqn
(almost certainly at Merville) during the unit's retreat to the Channel
coast. It was flown almost
exclusively throughout this period by prewar pilot Dennis David, who seemed
to find the reduced
performance of the fighter due to its original 'Watts prop' of little
consequence in combat. Indeed,
he was credited with 7 and 2 shared destroyed (plus an eighth solitary
kill in 'two-blader' L1870),
three unconfirmed and 2 damaged whilst flying L1630 between 10 and 19
May. Like the Hurricane
of Off W D David, Lille/Seclin, May 1940 No 85 Sqn's 'Dickie' Lee, this
machine also participated in
the Lille/Seclin inspection held on 6 December 1939, although photographs
taken at the time indicate that it was then devoid of the squadron standard
(a serpent) on its fin. Prior to the German invasion, the aircraft had
had a crowned red lion on a yellow crest painted onto its starboard cockpit
door, and as Plt Off David scored more victories, so small skulls (five
in total) were added above the artwork. An enterprising No 87 Sqn rigger
unhinged the door soon after L1630 was abandoned in France and brought
it back to England with him for eventual presentation to the unit. Donated
to the Air Historical Branch in the early 1960s following the disbandment
of No 87 Sqn, the door went on display at the RAF Hendon Museum in the
1970s. In 1996 now Grp Capt Dennis David (retired) arranged for the historic
relic to be exhibited on a long-term loan basis at the Shoreham Aircraft
Museum in Kent.
Source: Osprey Aviation Books, Aircraft of the Aces Vol 18. ISBN 1-85532-597-7
Supermarine Spitfire Mk I AZ-D, 234 Squadron
Although flown on numerous occasions
during the summer of 1940 by Bob Doe, this machine was also used on the
afternoon of 18th of August by leading No 234 Squadron ace Flg Off Patterson
Hughes to down two Bf 109Es (of 1./JG 27) off the Isle of Wight. Doe also
claimed one Emil destroyed and one damaged during this action, the German
fighters attempting to protect a large formation of Ju 87s sent to knock
out the CH radar station at Poling, in West Sussex, and several naval
airfields on the south coast.
X4036 later served with No 66 Squadron in the spring of 1941, before passing
to No 52 OTU.
Source: Osprey Aviation Books, Aircraft of the Aces Vol 12. ISBN 1-85532-627-2
