The Hawker Tempest was the most powerful fighter developed by the Hawker company during World War II and among the last generation of piston engine fighters. It entered service in April 1944 and was withdrawn in 1953.

The Hawker Tempest was a refinement of the earlier Hawker Typhoon that was manufactured in two versions, the Tempest V and VI with an inline engine and the Tempest II with a radial engine designed for operation against the Japanese.

The first Tempest flew on 24 February 1943 and the first Tempest II was produced in October 1944.

It was slightly better than the in-line engined Tempests but too late to see service in the Pacific War.

However, they flew with the RAF in many parts of the British Commonwealth until they were replaced by jet fighters

This model represents a Tempest II of 33 Squadron, RAF at Kuala Lumpar, c.1949-50.

Matchbox 1/72 kit with Model Alliance decals completed by Leigh Edmonds in February 2009.