Hawker Audax 1/72 Scale Model

British Audax - This is a model of an army support biplane that attacked the Iraqi ground forces surrounding the RAF base at Habbaniya in Iraq in May of 1941. The Audax entered service in 1932 as the army co-operation version of the Hawker Hart two-seat day bomber. It had very long exhaust tubes to prevent the glare from standard exhausts on a plane's nose from obscuring the pilot's view of the ground. A radial-engined version of the Audax, called the Hawker Nisr, was exported to Iran starting in 1933, to Iraq starting in 1935, and to Egypt starting in 1938. The Iraqi Audaxes flew against the British at Habbaniya in May, and the Iranian Audaxes flew against the British and Soviet invasion of Iran in August of 1941. Another version of the Audax, called the Hawker Hardy, entered service with the RAF in Iraq in 1935. It was outfitted with a tropical radiator for hot desert duty, and saw action with the RAF's Rhodesian No. 237 Squadron against the Italians in East Africa in 1940 and 1941. In 1937 South Africa began producing a licensed version of the Audax, called the Hawker Hartbees, which also saw action against the Italians in East Africa. The Hawker Hector, designed to replace the Audax, entered service with the RAF in 1937. The shape of its more powerful engine gave the plane's nose a square profile. The Hector saw action against the Germans in France in 1940. The introduction of the Hector, followed by the introduction of the Lysander in 1938, plus the growing availability of the Blenheim Mk.I, resulted in the Audax being largely relegated to training duties by the outbreak of WWII. The Audaxes being used as trainers at Habbaniya in 1941 were forced to fly combat missions out of dire necessity.

More Photos: Left, Right, Top, Front Angle Left, Front Angle Right, Rear Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Above Left, Above Right

Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II, David Mondey

Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940-42, Christopher Shores

Hawker Aircraft Since 1920, Francis Mason

The Hawker Audax and Hardy, Francis Mason

Hidden Victory: The Battle of Habbaniya, May 1941, A.G. Dudgeon