'' Hawker Typhoon Mk.IB ''

The first Typhoon flew in 1940, and initial versions, designated Mk. 1A, were armed with twelve .303 machine guns. Major production models, Mk. 1B, used four 20 mm cannons, which protruded from the wing leading edges. Many problems needed to be solved before the Typhoon was to become a really first class fighter. The first Typhoons entered squadron service in 1941 with No. 56 Squadron at RAF Duxford. The appearance of the Focke Wulf FW-190A, which outperformed the Spitfire Mk. V, forced the RAF to introduce the Typhoon as a countermeasure, as its performance equaled that of the Luftwaffe fighter. Soon, a new model, the Mk. 1B appeared, with a modified canopy for better rearward vision, and these retained the sideward opening doors, similar to those of a car. Later MK. 1B’s had regular sliding “bubble” canopies, as the “car door” arrangement must have made pilots wonder about surviving a bailout. The Typhoon was extremely fast, and proved to be a very effective fighter and ground attack airplane. About 3,300 were built. After the war, most were immediately scrapped. As far as I know, the only survivor is at the RAF Museum, Hendon, UK.

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