Although often overshadowed by the Supermarine Spitfire, the Hawker Hurricane was in fact the RAF's most vital fighter during the early years of the Second World War. Many of these tough, partly fabric monoplane fighters went with the British Expeditionary Forces to France in early 1940, and once the Blitzkrieg began they put in a valiant defense against the numerically superior Luftwaffe.
Although slower that the Messerschmitt Bf109 and with a less destructive armament, the Hurricane was able to turn tighter, and absorb considerable punishment. During the Battle of Britain it was the RAF's most numerous fighter, mainly tasked with attacking German bombers and many aces such as Robert Stanford-Tuck, Douglas Bader and Pat Pattle gained considerable scores with the Hurricane.
After the Battle of Britain ended the Hurricanes were used across the world, from the Middle East to Russia and even aboard aircraft carriers as the Sea Hurricane. but the summer of 1940 will always be seen as the Hurricane's finest hour.