Warplanes of the UK: Hawker Sea Fury

Hawker Sea Fury

The Hawker Sea Fury is a British fighteraircraft designed and manufactured by Hawker Aircraft. It was the lastpropeller-driven fighter to serve with the Royal Navy. Developed during theSecond World War, the Sea Fury entered service two years after the war ended.It proved to be a popular aircraft with a number of overseas militaries and wasused during the Korean War in the early 1950s, and by the Cuban air forceduring the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion.

The Sea Fury's development was formally initiated in 1943 in response to awartime requirement of the Royal Air Force (RAF), with the aircraft first namedFury. As the Second World War drew to a close, the RAF cancelled their orderfor the aircraft. The Royal Navy saw the type as a suitable carrier aircraft toreplace a range of obsolescent and stop-gap aircraft being operated by theFleet Air Arm. Development of the Sea Fury proceeded, and the type enteredoperational service in 1947.

The Sea Fury has many design similarities to Hawker's preceding Tempest fighter,having originated from a requirement for a "Light Tempest Fighter".The Sea Fury's wings and fuselage originated from the Tempest but weresignificantly modified. The production Sea Fury was fitted with the powerfulBristol Centaurus engine and armed with four wing-mounted Hispano V cannon.While originally developed as a pure aerial fighter aircraft, the definitiveSea Fury FB.11 was a fighter-bomber.

The Sea Fury attracted international orders as a carrier and land-basedaircraft. It was operated by countries including Australia, Burma, Canada,Cuba, Egypt, West Germany, Iraq, and Pakistan. The type acquitted itself wellin the Korean War, fighting effectively even against the MiG-15 jet fighter.Although the Sea Fury was retired by the majority of its military operators inthe late 1950s in favour of jet-propelled aircraft, a considerable number ofaircraft saw use in the civil sector, and several remain airworthy in the 21stcentury as heritage and racing aircraft. (Wikipedia)

‍

(RN Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury, coded VR9, with examples of ordnance it could carry. Sea Fury's saw combat from the decks of aircraft carriers during the Korean War. Sea Furies of HMS Thesus were the first to conduct patrols over the Korean Peninsula in 1950. These would be maintained by aircraft from Ocean, Glory and the RAN’s Sydney for the rest of the conflict. Perhaps most famous for 802 NAS’ Sub-Lt ‘Smoo’ Ellis shooting down a MiG-15 on 9 Aug there was also at least one other probable MiG kill by Lt ‘Toby’ Davis also of 802 NAS the following day.

(Tim Felce Photo)

(Adrian Pingstone Photo)

(Peter Bakema Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 (Serial No. VR930), Navy Wings charity at RNAS Yeovilton, previously with the Royal Navy Historic Flight, Yeovilton, Somerset. Airworthy.

(Mark Harkin Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 (Serial No. VX653), Reg. No. G-BUCM, currently being restored, The Fighter Collection, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

(Tony Hisgett Photos)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

(Tim Felce Photo)

(AKS.9955 Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury T.20(Serial No. WG655), 910, "Invincible", Reg. No. G-INVN, The Fighter Collection, Duxford, Cambridgeshire.  Airworthy.

(Tony Hisgett Photos)

(Andrew Thomas Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photos)

Hawker Sea Fury T.20S (Serial No. VX281), Reg. No. G-RNHF, officially handed over to the Navy Wings charity at RNAS Yeovilton on 23 April 2021.  VX281 previously flew with the now disbanded Royal Navy Historic Flight, North Weald, Essex.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 (Serial No. WJ231), Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton, Ilchester, Somerset.

(Mike Freer - Touchdown-aviation Photo)

(Anthony Noble Photo)

Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 (Serial No. TF956).  This aircraft was lost when it crashed into the sea off Prestwick, Scotland, 10 June 1989.

‍