The story of Hazel Hill a 13 year old who helped redesign the Spitfire from 4 to 8 guns
When Hazel Hill was just 13 years old, her father came home with a challenge for her. As a scientific officer at the Air Ministry in 1934, Captain Fred Hill felt that Spitfires and Hurricanes should be armed with eight guns, instead of the four they were initially designed with. However, there were concerns that aircraft would be unable to fly with the added weight. Hazel was a talented mathematician so he asked her to do the calculations for him. They were able to prove that eight guns were possible, and the firepower of the RAF was dramatically improved ahead of the Battle of the Britain. This would prove to be absolutely vital, giving the RAF the edge it so desperately needed. Hazel's son Ted and grand daughter Felicity came to Brooklands and met with Beatrice Merridan, Head of Collections & Audience Engagement and Kathryn Selwyn, Research and Collections Officer to talk about Hazel and her dad Fred Hill.