RAF Fighters Trivia Quiz

Answer: Hawker Hurricane

The rugged and reliable Hurricane was the primary RAF fighter from 1939-1942, later versions serving as fighter-bombers as late as 1945. Despite its revolutionary features, the Hurricane was usually outclassed in air-to-air combat by the Me 109 and Mitsubishi Zero. Even so, it was one of the most widely produced RAF fighters in history, well over 12,000 being built by 1945, when production finally ceased.

Answer: Gloster Gladiator

Answer: 409mph

Answer: Hawker Tempest

The powerful Tempest, conceived as a successor to the unsuccessful Typhoon, proved a far more capable fighter. The Mk V version, the only one to see wartime service, first flew in 1944. While still a dedicated fighter-bomber, the nimble fighter could handle itself in air-to-air combat if needed, being superior in turning radius to any German fighter at low altitude.

Answer: Spitfire Mk IX

The potent Spitfire IX was designed as an interim fighter between the outdated Mk V and the new Griffon-engined Mk XIV and Mk XVI versions. However, it was to become one of the best Spitfires of all. Basically a Mk V airframe mated to a new Merlin 60 or 61 engine, it could attain airspeeds close to 420mph, at almost any altitude. Luftwaffe pilots soon learned to avoid the nimble warbird, as even the new FW 190, once ruler of European skies, was no match for the new Spitfire.

The type served well into the 1950s and many still survive, 60 years after its incredible combat debut.

Answer: Eight .303inch Machine Guns

Answer: Gloster Meteor

Answer: Westland Whirlwind

Much was expected of the sleek single-seater, but it lacked both speed and performance, and was retired in 1942, all having vanished from service by 1943.

Answer: Hurricane MKII

During the autumn of 1942, with the German air raids on England decreasing, the RAF decided to retry a novel night-fighting idea developed and used, with little success, two years earlier. The "Turbinelight Havoc" idea involved the fitting of a powerful searchlight in the nose of a Douglas Havoc bomber converted for night flying, and teaming it with one or two Hurricanes.

This would (in theory) allow night interceptions by fighters without radar. Of course, in actual combat it was found to be more trouble than its limited success warranted.

In October of 1942, the only recorded victory for this idea came when a Hurricane pilot spotted an He111 cruising several hundred yards ahead, and requesting that the Havoc keep its searchlight turned off, closed in and shot down the German bomber.

Answer: Hawker Fury

The Fury was a direct descendant of the Tempest, being similar in appearence, but was smaller and lighter. Its career, however, was short lived, as it came too late for the war, and was soon replaced by the new jet fighters.