HUNTER'S MOON - Framed Collector's Piece

A Hawker Hurricane of No.85 Squadron patrols the South Coast of England under the watchful gaze of a full moon. The silver light illuminates the backdrop for our lone pilot on the lookout for German night raiders. It is October 1940, and it is a Hunter’s Moon.

Following the defeat of the Luftwaffe by the Day Fighters of the RAF during the Battle of Britain in 1940, the Germans switched to night bombing offensives.

Day Fighter Pilots were faced with the daunting task now of lone patrols at night regardless of weather conditions, searching for night raiders patrolling a line usually in pitch black nights over cloud or mist and after 1½ hours hoping still to find base without the benefits of homing aids. After hectic day fighting during July and August, No.85 Squadron, commanded by Sqn Ldr Peter Townsend, became operational as a Night Fighter Unit in October, using the same Hawker Hurricanes they had fought with during the major battles over the South-East of England.