Hawker Hurricane Mk I is take off in the night
A Hawker Hurricane Mark I night fighter of No. 85 Squadron RAF taxiing by the light of a flare at Debden, Essex, before taking off to intercept night raiders. Note the navigation lights on the wing tips.
Date:
14 March 1941
Source:
Imperial War Museum Collections, Photo No. CH 2250
Author:
Tovey P N F (Mr), RAF official photographer
Date:
14 March 1941
Source:
Imperial War Museum Collections, Photo No. CH 2250
Author:
Tovey P N F (Mr), RAF official photographer
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on 2011-Oct-07 18:01:30 Tartle said The Hurricane was designed as a day fighter and did that job very well. The problem was that the theoretical requirement for a night fighter resulted in the Boulton Paul Defiant which was a hopeless and vulnerable two-seater with no forward armament. So, in spite of having several squadrons of Zone Fighters operating by day or night the RAF had to press on with the Hurricane which was ineffective in that role... so was anything else until airborne interception radar was available and the Beaufighter was able to find the enemy. The beauty of night flying in the Hurricane was that it had a steady steep gliding angle when landing; it was also straightforward to fly and the instruments did not cause glare.