The Windsor Hurricane
The long awaited full-size replica of a Battle of Britain Fighter aircraft has been erected in Windsor near the town's popular Alexandra Gardens.
Designed by Windsorian Sir Sydney Camm, the Hawker Hurricane was unveiled on the Thames promenade on Friday 20th July 2012.
The cost of the memorial, which has been in planning since 2006 is being funded by developer contributions through the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The council is in full support of the project as a fascinating, historical attraction for residents and visitors alike.
Designed by Windsorian Sir Sydney Camm, the Hawker Hurricane was unveiled on the Thames promenade on Friday 20th July 2012.
The cost of the memorial, which has been in planning since 2006 is being funded by developer contributions through the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. The council is in full support of the project as a fascinating, historical attraction for residents and visitors alike.
Sir Sydney, renowned throughout the world of aviation as the ‘Brunel of aero engineers’ was born in Windsor and lived in Alma Road. The son of a carpenter’s apprentice, he was educated at the Royal Free School in Bachelors Acre and, without any formal engineering training, rose to become arguably the world’s greatest aeronautical engineer with 50 aircraft designs to his name and over 26000 aeroplanes built. His interest in aviation started at a young age with model aircraft building before selling them to the boys at Eton College.
The Hurricane, Camm’s most produced aircraft by far was known as the ‘work horse’ of the Battle of Britain and shot down more enemy aircraft throughout World War II than all other types of aircraft combined. Manufactured in Langley, the then new breed of fighter aircraft gave the Royal Air Force a much needed head start in defending Britain’s skies against the overwhelming air power of Nazi Germany when war broke out in 1939.
The following summer the RAF managed to repel what historians widely agree as the most serious threat to this country’s survival since William the Conqueror as the Battle of Britain played out over the green fields of southern England and the Channel. Whilst the legendary Spitfire received most acclaim, it was the easier to fly Hurricane that shot down the most aircraft and from an engineering point was most easily repaired and more quickly returned to battle - brilliant design features which made pilots and groundcrew love the aeroplane.
In addition to the major local events next year – the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee celebrations – 2012 also marks the 70th anniversary of another of Camm’s famous designs, the Hawker Tempest, and 80 years since he was made Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
The site, near the Royal Borough’s popular Alexandra Gardens, was seen as a natural home for the Hurricane monument within a few hundred yards of Camm’s former Windsor home in Alma Road
The Sir Sydney Camm Commemorative Society, which has been campaigning for the monument, advised the Royal Borough on the project. Captain John Foster, a former RAF Fighter pilot and the Society’s chairman, said: “Fortunately forWindsor, the council recognises the significance of Camm as a crucially important historic figure, both nationally and locally, and has ensured a successful conclusion to the monument’s establishment”.
”This monument, will serve as an inspiration to young people as to what can be achieved with hard work and dedication”.
Cllr Dee Quick, the Royal Borough’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Windsor, said she was delighted to welcome this much-looked-forward-to memorial to the town.
Cllr Quick said: “Windsor is proud of its close associations with Sir Sydney Camm – a man whose engineering and design brilliance played a key role in this country’s defence during the Second World War. The council is delighted to be involved with the society in making this memorial a reality and I am sure it will be a tremendous attraction for people of all ages in the years to come.”
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This is a fitting tribute to the man and the machine that provided the key to victory in the Battle of Britain in 1940.
There is also be a commemorative Plaque inscribed with the key members and core contributors to this wonderful and inspiring memorial.
The ongoing interest generated by this project will be used to support and encourage local children to become involved in Engineering and Aerospace in recognition of the importance of these professional fields to the UK.
This monument was be manufactured by:GateGuards (UK) Ltd http://www.gateguardsuk.com/ and painted by:AkzoNobel http://www.akzonobel.com/uk/
The Hurricane, Camm’s most produced aircraft by far was known as the ‘work horse’ of the Battle of Britain and shot down more enemy aircraft throughout World War II than all other types of aircraft combined. Manufactured in Langley, the then new breed of fighter aircraft gave the Royal Air Force a much needed head start in defending Britain’s skies against the overwhelming air power of Nazi Germany when war broke out in 1939.
The following summer the RAF managed to repel what historians widely agree as the most serious threat to this country’s survival since William the Conqueror as the Battle of Britain played out over the green fields of southern England and the Channel. Whilst the legendary Spitfire received most acclaim, it was the easier to fly Hurricane that shot down the most aircraft and from an engineering point was most easily repaired and more quickly returned to battle - brilliant design features which made pilots and groundcrew love the aeroplane.
In addition to the major local events next year – the Olympics and Diamond Jubilee celebrations – 2012 also marks the 70th anniversary of another of Camm’s famous designs, the Hawker Tempest, and 80 years since he was made Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
The site, near the Royal Borough’s popular Alexandra Gardens, was seen as a natural home for the Hurricane monument within a few hundred yards of Camm’s former Windsor home in Alma Road
The Sir Sydney Camm Commemorative Society, which has been campaigning for the monument, advised the Royal Borough on the project. Captain John Foster, a former RAF Fighter pilot and the Society’s chairman, said: “Fortunately forWindsor, the council recognises the significance of Camm as a crucially important historic figure, both nationally and locally, and has ensured a successful conclusion to the monument’s establishment”.
”This monument, will serve as an inspiration to young people as to what can be achieved with hard work and dedication”.
Cllr Dee Quick, the Royal Borough’s Cabinet Member with responsibility for Windsor, said she was delighted to welcome this much-looked-forward-to memorial to the town.
Cllr Quick said: “Windsor is proud of its close associations with Sir Sydney Camm – a man whose engineering and design brilliance played a key role in this country’s defence during the Second World War. The council is delighted to be involved with the society in making this memorial a reality and I am sure it will be a tremendous attraction for people of all ages in the years to come.”
- - -
This is a fitting tribute to the man and the machine that provided the key to victory in the Battle of Britain in 1940.
There is also be a commemorative Plaque inscribed with the key members and core contributors to this wonderful and inspiring memorial.
The ongoing interest generated by this project will be used to support and encourage local children to become involved in Engineering and Aerospace in recognition of the importance of these professional fields to the UK.
This monument was be manufactured by:GateGuards (UK) Ltd http://www.gateguardsuk.com/ and painted by:AkzoNobel http://www.akzonobel.com/uk/