Hawker Tempest V Aircraft History - World War Two Aircraft
Aircraft Information
Aircraft Serial Number: NV778
Historical Period: World War Two
RAF Museum Collection Ref: 72-A-571
Location at RAF Museum: RAF Museum London, Milestones of Flight
Aircraft History
The Tempest was one of the most powerful high performance fighters to see operational service in World War Two and extended the boundaries of piston-engined powered flight. Built on lessons learned earlier in the conflict it was designed to be a fast, manoeuvrable, heavily armed, high altitude interceptor. By the time it came into service, towards the end of the war, the German fighter forces had been decimated and it became a highly successful adversary of enemy ground troops and V1 Flying Bombs.
This particular aircraft was too late for active service and spent its operational life towing targets for air-to-air gunnery practice. The undersides are painted with black and yellow stripes to make it obvious that it was the tug not the target!
What makes this a Milestone Aircraft?
The Tempest was one of the last piston-engined front line fighters demonstrating the maximum performance that could be achieved with a piston engine and propeller combination.
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- Full aircraft history of the Hawker Tempest V (Adobe Reader Document, .pdf)
Coloured like a wasp, this Hawker Tempest was used for towing targets, not for stinging the enemy.
