Editing Hawker Typhoon (section)

===Low-level interceptor===
[[File:Pheloung 1.jpg|thumb|A Mark IB Typhoon ''US-A'' in April 1943. It was flown by [[Squadron Leader]] T.H.V Pheloung (New Zealand).<ref name="Thomas and Shores 1988"/>{{refn|On 20 June 1943, Sqn Ldr Pheloung flying ''EK184'', ''US-C'', was hit by [[Anti-aircraft warfare|flak]] and crashed into the sea while attacking shipping.|group=nb}} An {{convert|18|in|mm|adj=mid|-wide}} yellow recognition stripe is visible on the upper wing.]]
In 1941, the [[Supermarine Spitfire (early Merlin-powered variants)|Spitfire Mk Vs]], which equipped the bulk of Fighter Command squadrons, were outclassed by the new [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]] and suffered many losses. The Typhoon was rushed into service with Nos. [[No. 56 Squadron RAF|56]] and [[No. 609 Squadron RAF|609]] Squadrons in late 1941, to counter the Fw 190. This decision proved to be a disaster, as several Typhoons were lost for unknown reasons and the Air Ministry began to consider halting production of the type.{{Cn|date=March 2024}}

In August 1942, Hawker's second test pilot, Ken Seth-Smith, while deputising for Lucas, carried out a straight and level speed test from Hawker's test centre at Langley, and the aircraft broke up over Thorpe, killing the pilot. Sydney Camm and the design team immediately ruled out pilot error, which had been suspected in earlier crashes. Investigation revealed that the elevator mass-balance had torn away from the fuselage structure. Intense flutter developed, the structure failed and the tail broke away. Modification 286 to the structure and the control runs partially solved the structural problem. (The 1940 Philip Lucas test flight incident had been due to an unrelated failing.) Mod 286, which involved fastening external fishplates, or reinforcing plates, around the tail of the aircraft, and eventually internal strengthening, was only a partial remedy, and there were still failures right up to the end of the Typhoon's service life. The Sabre engine was also a constant source of problems, notably in colder weather, when it was very difficult to start, and it suffered problems with wear of its [[sleeve valve]]s, with consequently high oil consumption. The 24-cylinder engine also produced a very high-pitched engine note, which pilots found very fatiguing.{{Cn|date=March 2024}}

The Typhoon did not begin to mature as a reliable aircraft until the end of 1942, when its excellent qualities – seen from the start by S/L [[Roland Beamont]] of 609 Squadron – became apparent. Beamont had worked as a Hawker production test pilot while resting from operations, and had stayed with Seth-Smith, having his first flight in the aircraft at that time. During late 1942 and early 1943, the Typhoon squadrons were based on airfields near the south and south-east coasts of England and, alongside two squadrons with the [[Supermarine Spitfire (Griffon-powered variants)|Griffon-engined Spitfire XII]], countered the ''Luftwaffe''{{'}}s "tip and run" low-level nuisance raids, shooting down a score or more bomb-carrying Fw 190s. Typhoon squadrons kept at least one pair of aircraft on standing patrols over the south coast, with another pair kept at "readiness" (ready to take off within two minutes) throughout daylight hours. These sections of Typhoons flew at {{convert|500|ft}} or lower, with enough height to spot and then intercept the incoming enemy [[fighter-bomber]]s. The Typhoon finally proved itself in this role; for example, while flying patrols against these low-level raids, [[No. 486 Squadron RNZAF|486 (NZ) Squadron]] claimed 20 fighter-bombers, plus three bombers shot down, between mid-October 1942 and mid-July 1943.<ref>Sortehaug 1998, pp. 339–340.</ref>{{refn|486(NZ)Squadron started re-equipping with Typhoons in July 1942, initially using them as night fighters paired with [[Turbinlite]] searchlight equipped [[Douglas A-20 Havoc|Douglas Havoc]] aircraft with radar. However, the Typhoon proved to be too fast for Turbinlite duties and 486 Sqn was quickly reassigned to the day fighter role.<ref>Sortehaug 1998, pp. 23, 30.</ref>|group=nb}}

The first two [[Messerschmitt Me 210]] fighter-bombers to be destroyed over the British Isles were shot down by Typhoons in August 1942.<ref>Ramsay 1990, 165.</ref> During a daylight raid by the ''Luftwaffe'' on London on 20 January 1943, four [[Messerschmitt Bf 109|Messerschmitt Bf 109G-4]]s and one Fw 190A-4 of [[Jagdgeschwader 26|JG 26]] were destroyed by Typhoons.<ref>Caldwell 2012, pp. 15–17.</ref> As soon as the aircraft entered service, it was apparent the profile of the Typhoon resembled a Fw 190 from some angles, which caused more than one [[friendly fire]] incident involving Allied anti-aircraft units and other fighters. This led to Typhoons first being marked up with all-white noses, and later with high visibility [[Invasion stripes#Hawker Typhoon|black and white stripes]] under the wings, a precursor of the markings applied to all Allied aircraft on D-Day.