The Hawker Hurricane was the first British single-engine fighter and the first single wing aircraft with retractable landing gear as well as an enclosed cockpit and 8 machine guns. The Hurricane went into operational service in December 1937 with the RAF 111 Squadron. The Hurricane is usually over looked as a major player in the BoB because of the Spitfire but 80% of the 1,792 German aircraft shot down were because of the Hurricane. There were 14,533 Hurricanes produced in all variants.
James A.F. MacLachlan was a Squadron Leader assigned to the No. 1 Squadron at RAF Tangmere. In 1941 MacLachlan was severely wounded and as a result had an arm amputated but 7 months later returned to flying. He is credited with 16 victories over German and Italian aircraft of which 7 were night victories, 2 over Malta and 5 over France. In May 1942 MacLachlan became a night fighter ACE with the 5 victories over France while partnered with Karel Kuttelwascher. These victories earned MacLachlan the DSO.