Germans Focused on Spitfires — Hurricane Pilots Quietly Destroyed 60% of Enemy Aircraft

Discover the untold story of how German intelligence obsessed over Spitfires whilst Hurricane fighters quietly destroyed 60% of enemy aircraft during the Battle of Britain. With 32 Hurricane squadrons versus only 19 Spitfire squadrons, the sturdy fabric-covered fighter achieved 1,593 confirmed kills compared to Spitfire's 1,043—yet German commanders never realised their catastrophic misreading. Learn how Air Chief Marshal Dowding's tactical deployment exploited this blind spot, positioning Hurricanes against bomber formations whilst Spitfires engaged escorts. From the hardest day on 18th August to Battle of Britain Day on 15th September 1940, Hurricane pilots like Squadron Leader Eric Lock and Flight Lieutenant James Nicolson (VC) devastated Luftwaffe bomber streams. Featuring combat statistics, squadron records, pilot testimonies, and analysis of why German intelligence failed so spectacularly. The complete story of Britain's true defender—finally recognised after decades in Spitfire's shadow.

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SOURCES
Richards, Denis. Royal Air Force 1939-1945: Volume I, The Fight at Odds. HMSO, 1974. (Official RAF history with complete combat statistics)
Mason, Francis K. Battle Over Britain: A History of German Air Assaults on Great Britain, 1917-18 and July-December 1940. McWhirter Twins, 1969. (Comprehensive squadron-by-squadron analysis)
Bungay, Stephen. The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain. Aurum Press, 2000. (Modern scholarly analysis of the battle)
Townsend, Peter. Duel of Eagles. Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 1970. (First-hand Hurricane pilot memoir)
Price, Alfred. The Hardest Day: 18 August 1940. Arms and Armour Press, 1979. (Detailed analysis of specific engagement)
Air Historical Branch. The Battle of Britain: Air Defence of Great Britain, Volume II. National Archives AIR 41/15, declassified 1960s. (Primary official records)
Lake, Jon. The Battle of Britain. Silverdale Books, 2000. (Tactical analysis with combat statistics)
Shores, Christopher and Williams, Clive. Aces High: A Tribute to the Most Notable Fighter Pilots of the British and Commonwealth Forces in WWII. Grub Street, 1994. (Hurricane and Spitfire pilot records)
Imperial War Museum Collections. Pilot combat reports and squadron records, 1940. (Primary source documents)
National Archives, Kew. Files AIR 16/635, AIR 27 series (Squadron Operations Record Books), AIR 50 series (Combat Reports). (Official RAF documentation)