De Agostini WWII Fighters DAWF24
Hawker Hurricane Mk I Diecast Model
RAF No.1 Sqn, Arthur Clowes, Battle of Britain 1940 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Hawker Hurricane Mk I | | 5.25" | | 6.75" |
Arthur Clowes was born in Derbyshire and joined the RAF in 1929. By the time of the Battle of Britain, he was an experienced pilot who had downed at least eight German aircraft during action over France in 1940. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal for his skill and bravery during this period.
Clowes served with No. 1 Squadron, based at RAF Tangmere, during the Battle of Britain. Like all the pilots in the squadron, Clowes flew several sorties each day during the summer. On 6 September, he led the squadron in a patrol when their commanding officer's engine would not start. They were attacked by a formation of German Messerschmitt Bf 109s, but Clowes took control and firmly led his squadron out of danger and safely back to base.
The following day, Clowes was back in action as the Luftwaffe launched a huge bombing raid on London. At around 5pm, 1 Squadron met a large formation of German bombers and fighter aircraft. A confused aerial combat ensued, in which Clowes managed to successfully pursue and shoot down a Messerschmitt BF 110 over the Kent coast. He was scrambled into action five times in total on 7 September.
That day, Clowes was flying his personal Hawker Hurricane, number P3395, which he had first received in August 1940. He painted a wasp emblem on the nose of the aircraft and, each time he shot down an enemy aircraft, he added a black stripe to the wasp. His final number of destroyed aircraft was at least twelve.
In 1943, Clowes lost his left eye in an accident in the officer's mess at RAF Uxbridge. No longer able to fly, he remained in the RAF as a staff officer. He died in 1949, aged 37, from liver cancer.
Based on the Fury biplane and designed by Sydney Camm as a monoplane fighter, the Hurricane was first flown on November 6th, 1935. With its wide-set landing gear, easy handling, reliability, and stable gun platform, the Hurricane was suitable for a variety of different roles such as intruder, ground strafing and night fighter. Steel-tube construction meant cannon shells could pass right through the wood and fabric covering without exploding. The Hurricane underwent many modifications during its lifetime, including an upgraded Merlin engine and interchangeable multi-purpose wings, staging twelve 7.7mm guns and two 40mm anti-tank guns and carrying two 500lb bombs. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The De Agostini "WWII Fighters" range presents affordable, ready made diecast models of World War II military aircraft in 1:72 scale. To help keep the price down, these items arrive in low-cost, discardable blister type packaging.
De Agostini "WWII Fighters" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal and plastic construction.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
