Country of origin:

United Kingdom

Description:

Single-seat fighter bomber

Power Plant:

One 1,626 kw (2,180 hp) Napier Sabre IIA, IIB or IIC 24-cylinder H-type liquid-cooled engine

Specifications:

Armament:

Four 20 mm Hispano Mk V cannon in wings; provision for two 454 kg (1,000 lb) bombs, or napalm or mines, or eight 27 kg (60 lb) rockets

History:

The Hawker Tempest was a development of the Typhoon designed by a team led by Sydney Camm, being a logical development of the earlier aircraft with the Napier Sabre IV engine. Initial design work was on a Tornado but, following the cancellation of this design, it was decided in due course to fit the new Bristol Centaurus engine; however, difficulties with this engine necessitated the use of the Napier Sabre.

The prototype flew for the first time on 23 October 1941. Construction was similar to the Typhoon, with a monocoque rear section, a centre fuselage containing the cockpit, and forward of that the engine. As the Tempest V it was flown on 2 September 1942 with a 1,626 kw (2,180 hp) Sabre II engine pending the availability of the 1,865 kw (2,500 hp) Sabre IV engine. The second prototype with the latter engine flew on 24 February 1943.

Orders had been placed for 400 Tempest Is with the Sabre IV engine but this engine had development problems and it was decided to install the Sabre IIA engine. In this form it was quite successful, being described by Roland Beamont as a Typhoon with the bugs sorted out, faster than the Focke Wulf 190 and supreme for the low-level war from D-Day onwards. The Tempest II had the Bristol Centaurus radial engine but delays in the development of this engine meant it did not see service in World War II. The Tempest III and IV were designs to take the Rolls Royce Griffon engine but were not built as the Griffon was required for the Spitfire.

The first production Tempest V (JN729) was flown on 21 June 1943, the first 100 aircraft being known as the Mk V Series 1, but subsequent aircraft had the Hispano Mk V cannon in place of the Mk II and spring-tabbed ailerons, becoming known as the Tempest V Series 2. The Tempest VI retained the Sabre engine and was developed from the Mk V, having improved cooling and a strengthened rear spar.

An example was sent to Khartoum in the Middle East for tropical trials. Some survived into the 1950s as target tugs. A total of 1,414 Tempests of all models was completed.

The type was cleared for service on 8 April 1944, by which time some 250 examples had been delivered and, at Newchurch in Kent, Nos 3 (RAF) and 486 (RNZAF) Squadrons were equipped to become No 150 Wing under the command of Wing Commander Roland Beamont.  No 56 (RAF) Squadron was equipped with the type in July and it soon proved its worth in the ground attack and air superiority roles, and later participated in the battle against the V-1 flying bombs. In the latter role it proved the most successful aircraft available, destroying 638 of the 1,771 V-1s destroyed.

By September 1944 six squadrons were equipped with the Tempest and were operational. No 486 Squadron RNZAF was formed in Lincolnshire, England to operate as part of the RAF and was initially equipped with Hawker Hurricane IIs, serving in the night fighter role until September 1942 when it re-equipped with the Hawker Typhoon. It carried out patrols along the south coast and was equipped with the Tempest in January 1944 at Castle Camps in  Cambridgeshire, becoming part of No 150 Wing under Wing Commander Beamont, its role being changed to fighter defence after D-Day and at that time claiming the shooting down of 223 V-1 flying bombs. The unit from September 1944 was attached to the 2nd Tactical Air Force and operated in Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark. The unit was disbanded on 12 October 1945 at Dunsfold in the United Kingdom, having flown over 11,000 sorties, claiming 81 enemy aircraft, 323 vehicles, 14 railway engines and 16 ships. Some 22 DFCs and a DSOs were awarded to pilots of the unit. Whilst flying the Tempest the unit destroyed 59 enemy aircraft.

A Tempest V (EJ693) has been under restoration in the United Kingdom for the Fantasy of Flight Museum at Polk City, Florida. This aircraft was built at Hawker’s Langley Facility in 1944 and served with No 486 Squadron RNZAF at Newchurch in Lancashire. This aircraft force landed in Holland in 1944 and, after recovery, was used to test engines on the ground. It went to the RAF Museum for a period before being sold. Another Tempest TT.V (NV778) has been placed on display at the RAF Museum at Hendon.

A Tempest (MW376) was imported to New Zealand from France in July 2012 to Pioneer Aero for restoration to airworthy condition for New Zealand-based owner Eric Hertz. However, Mr Hertz and his wife were killed in an aircraft accident in March 2013. The aircraft was then placed on the market for sale with the hope that a new owner could be found so the aircraft could be restored in tribute to the former owner and New Zealand pilots who flew the type in World War II. However, this did not occur and the aircraft was placed in two containers at Ardmore and shipped to a buyer in Canada where work has continued on its restoration.