Hobby Master 1-48 Air Power
HA8654 Hurricane Mk.IIc
BD983, S/L James MacLachlan,
No.1 Sqn., Northold from November 1941 to June 1942
The Hawker Hurricane was the first British single-engine fighter and the first single wing aircraft
with retractable landing gear as well as an enclosed cockpit and 8 machine guns. The Hurricane
went into operational service in December 1937 with the RAF 111 Squadron. The Hurricane is
usually over looked as a major player in the BoB because of the Spitfire but 80% of the 1,792
German aircraft shot down were because of the Hurricane. There were 14,533 Hurricanes
produced in all variants.
James A.F. MacLachlan was a Squadron Leader assigned to the No. 1 Squadron at RAF
Tangmere. In 1941 MacLachlan was severely wounded and as a result had an arm amputated
but 7 months later returned to flying. He is credited with 16 victories over German and Italian
aircraft of which 7 were night victories, 2 over Malta and 5 over France. In May 1942 MacLachlan
became a night fighter ACE with the 5 victories over France while partnered with Karel
Kuttelwascher. These victories earned MacLachlan the DSO.
Specifications Hawker Hurricane IIC
Crew – 1
Dimensions
Length – 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
Wingspan – 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
Height – 13 ft 1.5 in (4.0 m)
Weights
Empty – 5,745 lb (2,605 kg)
Loaded – 7,670 lb (3,480 kg)
Maximum Take-off – 8,710 lb (3,950 kg)
Performance
Engine – 1 X rolls-Royce Merlin XX liquid-cooled V-12, 1,185 hp (883 kW) @ 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
Maximum Speed – 340 mph (547 km/h) @ 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
Rate Of Climb – 2,780 ft/min (14.1 m/s)
Service Ceiling – 36,000 ft (10,970 m)
Range – 600 mi (965 km)
Armament
Guns – 4 X 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano Mk II Cannons
Bombs – 2 X 250 or 500 lb (110 or 230 kg)
