"Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few."
- British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, commenting on the British airmen in the Battle of Britain
The Hawker Hurricane was the first monoplane to join the Royal Air Force as a fighter aircraft, capable of reaching speeds in excess of 300-mph in level flight. Often compared with the sleek-looking Supermarine Spitfire, the Hurricane, in actuality, shouldered the brunt of the fighting during the "Battle of Britain", equipping more than three-fifths of the RAF's Fighter Command squadrons. When it lost its edge as a dogfighter in 1941, the Hurricane took on a number of other roles, including ground attack missions and maritime combat air patrols.
This particular Hurricane Mk. I was piloted by Flying Off. E.J. 'Cobber' Kain, who was attached to No. 73 Squadron, then deployed to Rouvres, France, during the spring of 1940. Now in stock!
Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6 inches
Length: 5 inches
Release Date: April 2010
Historical Account: "Cobber" - Edgar James ‘Cobber’ Kain, a New Zealander, joined the RAF in 1936. He was quickly recognised as an outstanding pilot, flying Gladiators with 73 Squadron. In 1938, the squadron converted to Hurricanes and flew to France just four days after war was declared.
Kain’s first victory, a Do 17, was achieved on November 8th, 1939. His career rapidly became one of firsts, first RAF Pilot to claim a Bf 109E; first WWII RAF Ace; first to receive the DFC.
By June 6th, 1940, ‘Cobber’ was the top RAF Ace with 16 kills and one probable and was due to return to England the following day. Leaving Echimenes in a Hurricane he proceeded to ‘beat up’ the airfield, but on his third roll the aircraft went into a spin and crashed, killing him instantly. No one knows for sure the serial number of Kain’s Hurricane ‘Paddy III’ but, it is likely an early ‘L’ prefix aircraft (possibly L1766).
From September 1939 onwards, all Hurricanes were fitted with a metal wing in place of the early canvas covered wing and any surviving ‘L’ prefix machines were upgraded. This model represents such a modified machine during the height of the Battle of France in the spring of 1940. |
