Hurricane “KW-Z” Low Top Canvas Shoes
Hurricane L1592 (“KW-Z”) is the world’s oldest Hurricane, having been built in May 1938 and is believed to be the only existing Hurricane to retain fabric-covered wings. This aircraft is known to have fought over Dunkirk and in the Battle of Britain, it was attacked by a Bf-109 on 17 August 1940, and damaged in the forced landing near Croydon which followed the attack. Transferred to RAF Henlow in October, the aircraft was repaired and returned to service. It was then transferred to RAF Cardiff in 1944, and in 1945 it was assigned to RAF Sealand, and stored for future museum use.
From 1950, it was used as a traveling exhibit by the RAF Air Historical Branch, Stanmore, marked as “DT-A”, and then as “US-D,” until 16 December 1954, when it was transferred to the Science Museum, South Kensington, London. Stored at RAF Sydenham from 1954 to 1960, the airframe was then transported by ground and delivered to Hawker, Dunsford, for restoration by Hawker to static display standards, with markings L1592, KW Z applied.
In May 1961, the aircraft was returned to the Science Museum, South Kensington, London, England.
