European Air War

Hawker Tempest

A fighter-bomber development from the Typhoon, the Tempest first saw action in early 1944. As with the Typhoon, the Tempest shouldn't go looking for air-to-air combat, but can reasonably defend itself should air-to-air combat come looking for it. Remember to drop any external stores to reduce weight and drag before entering an aerial battle.

Used mainly for ground attack, the Tempest is a very fast aircraft, making it an excellent interceptor against V-1s. Tempest pilots also claimed 20 Me262 kills in the waning months of the war; since the Tempest isn't nearly as fast as the German jet, it seems probable that most of the jets were caught at slow speed during takeoffs or landings.

Hawker Tempest Mk V (View Cockpit)

1. Clock

2. Flap Position Indicator

3. Landing Gear Position Indicator

4. Airspeed Indicator

5. Artificial Horizon

6. Rate of Climb Indicator

7. Altimeter

8. Gyro Compass

9. Turn and Bank Indicator

10. Tachometer

11. Manifold Pressure Gauge

12. Fuel Gauge

13. Oil Pressure Gauge

14. Engine Temperature Gauge

Notes: The ordnance packages available to both Typhoons and Tempests are virtually identical so they can be presented together. For Fighter Sweeps, Escort Duty and Intercepts, fly these aircraft clean. For Search and Destroy missions, use the eight pack of five-inch rockets to best effect. For Strikes, although each can carry either 500 or 1000 lb. bombs in a dual configuration, the Tempest V tolerates the additional airframe loading better than the Typhoon.