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

The Hawker Tempest was a refinement of the earlier Hawker Typhoon with a thinner wing which gave it much better performance.

It was manufactured in two versions, the Tempest V with an inline engine and the Tempest II with a radial engine.

The first Tempest flew on 24 February 1943 and the Tempest V entered service with the RAF in April 1944.

They were used to counter the German V-1 attacks on Britain and later provided ‘cab rank’ patrols supporting ground forces in France and Germany.

This model represents a standard Tempest V, NX154, of 6 Squadron RAF, c.1945.

Matchbox 1/72 kit completed by Leigh Edmonds in 1976.