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On 6 November 1935, a prototype aircraft took to the air for the very first time. As Sydney Camm's sturdy, single-engined monoplane fighter climbed into the sky few realised that it was destined to become one of the enduring symbols of the greatest air battle ever fought. Its name was the Hawker Hurricane.
As the prototype Hurricane lifted off that day, it represented ultimate evolution of conventional airframe technology, constructed using simple metal tubes covered by fabric, methods that had been honed in developing the Hawker Fury, and generations of biplanes before it. It was 'old fashioned' but simple and relatively cheap to build and easy to repair. And with the inevitability of war with Germany fast approaching, the RAF not only needed more fighters - it needed them quickly. The Hurricane fitted the bill, and by September 1939 nearly 190 had been delivered to the RAF, far more than the Spitfire. It fought in France and over Dunkirk, but it was during the Battle of Britain that the Hurricane's 'finest hour' was to come.
Equipping more front-line squadrons, the Hurricane, although manoeuvrable, was slower than the Spitfire so the tactics of the battle decreed that the Hurricanes would take on the enemy bombers whilst the Spitfires concentrated on the fast Bf109's. During the first two years of the war the Luftwaffe lost many more aircraft to the guns of the Hurricane than to those of the Spitfire.
The Hurricane saw continuous active service throughout the war. A night-fighter during the Blitz, it played a vital role in the defence of Malta and in the Western Desert. It fought in Russia, Burma and the Far East, and Sea Hurricanes flew with distinction with the Fleet Air Arm. It was flown by some of the highest scoring pilots of the war. Legendary Aces such as Pat Pattie, Douglas Bader, William Vale, Tom Dalton-Morgan and 'Ginger' Lacey all loved this tenacious and dogged fighter. And it was the Hurricane more than any other aircraft that helped the indomitable Polish pilots take their fight to Germany. Robert Taylor's evocative painting, Undaunted by Odds, is a moving tribute to the Hurricane and the gallant pilots who flew it in combat. The painting portrays the Hurricanes of 303 Polish Squadron RAF during the Battle of Britain as the unit climbs steadily to intercept yet another incoming wave of enemy bombers heading for London in September 1940. Soon the already battle-hardened Polish pilots will once again be in the thick of the action. The prints in this outstanding edition have been endorsed with the original signatures of pilots who flew and fought with the Hurricane throughout World War II, creating a lasting and historic tribute that will prove highly collectable for many years to come.
Each print in Robert Taylor's Limited Edition, Undaunted by Odds, is signed by ten distinguished RAF pilots who flew Hurricanes during WWII:
Squadron Leader JUREK MENCEL DFC KM*** AFM***
Flight Lieutenant STANISLAW NAWARSKI DFC KM
Pilot Officer STEFAN RYLL AFM*
Flight Lieutenant JACK BIGGS
Flying Officer JOHN BYRNE
Warrant Officer ERIC CARTER
Flying Officer KEN COCKRAM
Squadron Leader FRANK ‘Dimmy’ JOYCE MBE
Flight Lieutenant HUGH PARRY
Flight Lieutenant KURT TAUSSIG.
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