Hurricane OK-1 had the biggest impact on all the aircraft that took part in the Battle of Britain. a single airplane. Despite being flown by an Ace with 20 wins to his credit, it failed to shoot down anything during the combat (all during WWI).
Early in the 1930s, Sydney Camm at Hawker Aircraft created the British single-seater monoplane fighter aircraft known as the Hawker Hurricane. In World War II, it served admirably and was responsible for more than 60% of the air wins in the Battle of Britain.
During the Battle of Britain, Fighter Command flew 1,715 Hurricanes in total, significantly more than all other British fighters combined. In the months of July and October 1940, it is thought that Hurricane pilots were responsible for four out of every five enemy aircraft destroyed.
Hurricane OK-1 had the most impact of all the aircraft in the Battle of Britain. One airplane only. Despite being flown by an Ace with 20 victories under his belt (all in WWI), it didn’t shoot down anything throughout the conflict, according to Jim Schofield, an aviation expert on Quora.
‘OK-1’s impact came as a result of being the trusted personal aircraft of Air Vice Marshal Sir Keith Park.
‘“If any one man won the Battle of Britain, he did” – Air Chief Marshal Lord Tedder (1947)
‘Sir Keith saved the entire world, becoming the first General to defeat the Nazis in a large battle, in what may be the most pivotal and most important battle in world history. His Hurricane, OK-1, was the plane he flew while doing it. It’s important to note that Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding is as crucial as Sir Keith, and was Fighter Command’s overall commander. Plus, massive contributions from so many others. I believe Lord Dowding didn’t fly around as of the Battle of Britain; if he did, his plane would be here too!’
He goes on;
‘This photograph shows Sir Keith and OK-1. The handwritten inscription indicates it was taken on the 15th of September, presumably in 1940; a date now celebrated as Battle of Britain Day. That day was the climax of the battle when some 1,500 aircraft fought above London and Southern England. The RAF and Sir Keith (and OK-1!) emerged victorious.
‘Sir Keith’s beloved ‘dear old Hurricane’ seems to have served him and the RAF extremely well throughout the battle.
‘So, what’s so special about OK-1? Physically not much, it’s like all the other Hurricanes. She was a Block 3 Mk.1 Hurricane, with a Merlin III engine, with the serial number P3854. It’s her precious cargo, Sir Keith, who OK-1 kept safe and sound is what makes her so important… Although she does have appropriate, badass nose art; Cerberus, the three-headed dog of Hades, who guards the underworld to prevent the dead from escaping!’
Schofield concludes:
‘Sir Keith is an incredible, sadly under-recognized hero.
‘And that’s why Hurricane, OK-1 is the aircraft that had the most impact on the Battle of Britain!’
Photo by Crown Copyright