The "Obsolete" Fighter That Won the Battle of Britain — And Shot Down More Than the Spitfire

Added: 2026-05-26

During World War II's Battle of Britain in 1940, the Hawker Hurricane, despite being considered outdated with fabric wings and a thick fuselage, proved more effective than the more glamorous Spitfire because it was easier to repair in the field—damaged Hurricanes could be patched up in hours and returned to combat, while Spitfires required weeks in specialized shops. The Hurricane accounted for 1,593 of the 2,739 German aircraft destroyed (55% of the total) and made up 60% of RAF Fighter Command, demonstrating that practical durability and repairability can be more strategically valuable than superior performance in prolonged warfare.