Hurricane IIB Combat Log

Hawker Hurricane - No.151 Wing RAF (Royal Air Force) was formed at the end of July 1941 as a two Squadron Hawker Hurricane wing incorporating No.'s 81 and 134 Squadrons, which were formed in the last days of July 1941 at RAF Leconfield. The formation of the Wing followed discussions at the highest level of British government following the German invasion of the Soviet Union in June 1941. Operation Barbarossa had met with enormous success, the Soviet Forces being defeat in pitched battles, falling back all along the front. Britain was under pressure to aid its new ally, the Soviet Union. Although unwilling to provide the asked for ground forces, the British government decided that all possible material aid should be given to the Soviet Union to keep her in the fight. British Prime Minister Churchill was under no illusions; knowing well that Britain alone was never going to be able to provide the huge armies necessary to defeat Germany. The Soviet Union was now a way for the Germans to be fought en-mass. As well as material aid, it was decided to provide a RAF Wing to fight alongside the Red Air Force, while at the same time instructing Soviet pilots on the Hawker Hurricane IIB fighters so that they would form a nucleus of combat pilots from which a large force of Soviet Flown Hurricanes Squadrons would be spawned. This volume covers the formation of No.'s 81 and 134 Squadrons RAF, which constituted No.151 Wing. The Wings combat operations during September and October are covered with every operational sortie listed. Narratives cover combats with enemy aircraft and Wing Combat Reports are reproduced verbatim.