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An unknown Hawker Hunter (possibly Lebanese?) under restoration at the RAF Museum, Cosford, Shropshire, 8 July 2020.

Designed as a day fighter to complement the Gloster Javelin all-weather/night fighter, the Hunter was initially regarded as a back-up to the favoured Supermarine Swift. However, the latter proved extremely troublesome and difficult to fly and eventually had to be virtually redesigned to become acceptable – by which time it was too late for the Swift.

Meanwhile, the Hunter had proved itself to be a high performing, beautifully handling aircraft that could be easily and quickly turned around between missions. The Swift quickly disappeared from the RAF inventory; the Hunter was produced in large numbers and proved to be one of the very best transonic day fighters, fighter-reconnaissance and fighter-bomber/ground attack aircraft ever built by any country. Advanced trainer versions were also produced and it proved to be ideal in that role too. Many countries procured the Hunter and it saw combat in many wars. First flown in 1951, it entered service with the RAF in 1954; it lasted in RAF service in the fighter-bomber and fighter-reconnaissance role until 1971 and as trainers with both the RAF and RN until the 1990’s. In all three roles, the Singapore Air Force used the Hunter until 1992. The Lebanese Air Force used its fighter and ground attack Hunters until 2014.