File:Hawker Hurricane I ‘P2617 AF-F’ (51002772025).jpg

This genuine veteran of both the Battle of Britain and the Battle of France was built by Gloster in late 1939 / early 1940 and joined 607 (County of Durham) Squadron in April 1940. The unit was based at Abbeville, France, as part of the British Expeditionary Force and saw heavy action throughout April and May, before returned to Croydon in May 1940. After serving in the South of England throughout the Battle of Britain, P2617 moved to Prestwick, Scotland, in October 1940 to join 1 Squadorn RCAF (later 401 Squadron). By July 1941 it was flying with training units including 9SFTS, 8SFTS and 9AFU, finally being stored with 22MU in August 1943. In April 1944 she was allocated to the AHB (Air Historical Branch) and remained in store until after the end of the war. In July 1951 she was used in the filming of ‘Angels One Five’ at RAF Kenley and after a period back in store she was back at Kenley again in 1955 to film ‘Reach for the Sky’. Between 1955 and 1968 she was used as a ground display airframe at various events around the UK and during this time was repainted into 607 Squadron markings. In 1968, she became a film-star for the third time, being used during the making of ‘Battle of Britain’. She moved to Hendon for the opening of the museum in 1972 and in 1978 she moved to the Battle of Britain Hall where she remained on display until 2016 when the hall was inexplicably dismantled to celebrate the RAFs 100th Anniversary(!?) She is now on display in Hangar 3. RAF Museum London. Hendon, Greater London, UK