Hawker Hurricane Mk I flown by S/L Douglas Bader, No 242 Squadron, September 1940.

Douglas Bader was one of the Royal Air Force’s best-known aces in World War II. Having lost both his legs in a flying accident prior to the war, he managed to return to flying status and was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged before he was shot down and captured in August 1941.

Hurricane Mk I V7406 flown by F/O Manfred Czernin DSO MC, DFC, No 17 Squadron, 25 August 1940.

The son of an Austrian count and diplomat and a British baron’s daughter, Count Manfred Beckett Czernin joined the Royal Air Force in 1935. After participating in the Battle of France, he became an ace during the Battle of Britain. Flying a Hurricane on 25 August 1940, he engaged a group of Messerschmitt Bf 110 head on and shot down three of them in less than a minute.

Hawker Hurricane Mk I P3576 flown by F/L James Nicolson VC, No 249 Squadron, 16 August 1940.

Although not technically an ace, F/L James Nicolson was the only Fighter Command pilot to receive the Victoria Cross during World War II and deserves his place among Hurricane aces. On 16 August 1940, his aircraft was hit by enemy cannon fire and began to burn. As Nicolson was about to bail out, he realized his opponent had overshot him. He climbed back in the burning cockpit and shot him down, receiving grievous burn injuries in the process. He was awarded the Victoria Cross for this action.

Hawker Hurricane Mk I V6799 flown by P/O Ken Mackenzie DFC, No 501 Squadron, 7 October 1940.

On 7 October 1940, Battle of Britain Hurricane ace Ken Mackenzie damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and ran out of ammunition. Fearing the enemy pilot would make it back to base, Mackenzie rammed him with his starboard wing, sending it down into the sea. Mackenzie was credited with 11.5 aerial victories before he was shot down and captured in September 1941.

LF363 was built at the Hawker factory at Langley near Slough. It first flew in January 1944 and is believed to be the last Hurricane to enter service with the RAF [Author’s note: this appears to be incorrect, see comment by G. Riley below]. The aircraft served with N^o 63 Squadron at Turnhouse, N^o 309 (Polish) Squadron at Drem, where it was used on shipping protection patrols off the east coast of Scotland, and N^o 26 Squadron with whom it flew naval artillery spotting and reconnaissance sorties before the end of the War.

Source: BBMF website

This is LF363 in 2014, carrying the colours of Hurricane Mk I P3395, which was flown by S/P Arthur Clowes during the Battle of Britain and carried the famous wasp nose art.

The last Hurricane ever built (of 14,533), PZ865 rolled off the Hawker production line at Langley, Bucks, in July 1944 with the inscription ‘The Last of the Many’ on her port and starboard sides. Keen to preserve the last Hurricane ever built, Hawkers purchased the aircraft back from the Air Ministry and kept it in storage at Langley.

Source: BBMF website

PZ865 as she appeared in 2015, carrying the colours of  Hurricane Mk IIC HW840 of No 34 Squadron, South East Asia Command during 1944, the personal aircraft of Canadian pilot F/L Jimmy Whalen DFC.

With 18 aerial victories, “Ginger” Lacey was the second most successful British pilot during the Battle of Britain. A Battle of France veteran and ace, he was shot down or forced to land 9 times by the end of the Battle of Britain but scored a total of 23 victories. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal on 23 August 1940, and a second one on 26 November of the same year. His final tally was 28 enemy aircraft destroyed, five probables and nine damaged.

“Sergeant Lacey has taken part in numerous patrols against the enemy. He has displayed great determination and coolness in combat, and has destroyed six enemy aircraft.” – DFM Citation

“Sergeant Lacey has shown consistent efficiency and great courage. He has led his section on many occasions and his splendid qualities as a fighter pilot have enabled him to destroy at least 19 enemy aircraft.” – 2nd DFM citation

Print available from Bravo Bravo Aviation.