Overview of the Hawker Hector

The Hawker Hector was a British biplane designed for army co-operation, primarily used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the late 1930s and early World War II.

Key Specifications Attribute Details Type Army co-operation aircraft Manufacturer Hawker Aircraft First Flight February 14, 1936 Entered Service February 1937 Total Built 179 (including 1 prototype) Engine Napier Dagger III (805 hp) Max Speed 187 mph Service Ceiling 24,000 ft Armament Two .303 in machine guns, 224 lb bombs Service History Deployment and Combat The Hector was introduced to replace the older Hawker Audax aircraft. It began service with the RAF in February 1937 and was used by several squadrons. By 1939, it was becoming obsolete and was gradually replaced by the Westland Lysander. Engagement in World War II The Hector saw limited combat during the Battle of France in May 1940. On May 26, 1940, six Hectors from No. 613 Squadron participated in dive-bombing missions against German positions in Calais. The following day, they attempted to drop supplies to the besieged garrison, unaware that the troops had already surrendered. Two Hectors were lost during these operations. Later Use and Retirement After its combat role, the Hector was repurposed as a target tug and for towing gliders. The aircraft was officially retired from RAF service in 1942. Thirteen Hectors were sold to the Irish Air Corps after the Dunkirk evacuation, as they were in poor condition and the Irish military needed aircraft urgently.