History

The Hawker Sea Fury Carrier borne fighter-bomber was the British Fleet Air Arm's last piston-engined fighter, developed during WWII it did not see service with the Fleet Air Arm until after the war. It was arguably the fastest piston powered aircraft ever manufactured.

It was a development from the Hawker Tempest, itself a development of the Hawker Typhoon. Originally, the Hawker Fury was designed by Sidney Camm in 1942 under F.2/43 specification, to provide the RAF with a lightweight replacement for the Tempest II.

On  23 June, 1942, Luftwaffe Pilot Oberleutnant Arnim Faber erroneously landed his Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3 fighter at RAF Pembrey, apparently having mistaken this airfield for a Luftwaffe channel coast airfield. The British were thereby presented with a working example of the Fw 190 fighter, which had been giving the RAF an extremely difficult time. The Hawker Fury design was a direct result of the examination of Faber's Fw 190A-3. Examination of Faber's aircraft was largely responsible for the preparation of Specification F.6/42, which called for a new, high-performance fighter.

The design was modified in 1943 to meet a Royal Navy specification (N.7/43) for a carrier-based interceptor and named the Hawker Sea Fury. Hawker was designated to work on the land-based version, and responsibility for the naval conversion was assigned to Boulton-Paul Aircraft Ltd. of Wolverhampton.

Prototype Hawker Sea Fury SR661 in 1944

Early in 1944, a revised naval specification, N.22/43, supplanted N.7/43. and in April 1944 contracts were placed for 200 F.2/43 planes for the RAF and 200 N.22/43 planes for the Fleet Air Arm. The first Sea Fury prototype, SR661, flew on 21 February, 1945. It was powered by a Centaurus XII engine driving a four-bladed propeller. This airplane had a deck arrester hook under the rudder, but retained fixed wings. The second Sea Fury prototype, SR666, was powered by a Centaurus XV driving a five-bladed propeller and was a fully navalized aircraft with folding wings. The prototype Sea Fury SR661 was subsequently tested for its suitability as a naval fighter, and in deck landing trials, at the A&AEE Boscombe Down in May 1945. Tests were still underway as the Japanese surrendered in August 1945.

With the end of the Second World War, the RAF cancelled all production contracts for the Fury, deciding to concentrate all of its future efforts on jet fighters. The Royal Navy reduced its order for Sea Furies to 100 aircraft, and canceled the Boulton-Paul contract in its entirety.

The first production aircraft - a Mark 10 which was a carrier-based version, with folding wings- did not make its initial flight until September 1946. Although originally intended to serve with both the RAF and FAA, the RAF order was cancelled at the end of the war. The first deck trials with Sea Fury TF898 began aboard HMS Victorious during the winter of 1946-47. The Mark 10 was approved for carrier operations in Spring 1947, and five Fleet Air Arm squadrons were then equipped with the Sea Fury. The Mark 10 was followed by the Mark 11 fighter-bomber - 615 of these were eventually delivered to the Navy.  It became the Fleet Air Arm's principal single-seat fighter and remained so until the introduction of the Sea Hawk jet fighter in 1953.

The Sea Fury served throughout the Korean War, replacing the Seafire, which was not really built for carrier operations, being too fragile.

The Sea Fury was used by the FAA, Canada, Holland, Australia, and other countries including the Iraq Air Force. A total of 75 Sea Furies served with the Royal Canadian Navy(R.C.N.) between 1948 and 1956. All flew from the Aircraft Carrier HMCS Magnificent in 871 squadron.

PHOTOGRAPH OF RCN SEAFURIES IN FLIGHT
DND Photos of Pre-1970 Canadian Naval Air Assets Versions
 Mk.X
                50 built, first production variant powered by Centaurus XV
 FB.MK 11
                First widespread variant, 615 built including 31 for the RAN and 53 for the
                RCN.
 T.Mk 20
                60 trainers, 10 of which were later converted to target tugs for West
                Germany.

    Fleet Air Arm history
        Hawker Sea Fury
        Total FAA 1939-1945:        1 (a total 725 built post-war)
        First delivered to RN:         May 1945 to A&AEE only
        First squadron 1939-1945:   None 1939-1945
        Operational squadron:         None in 1939-1945. Saw trials in Oct 1945 and service from 1947
        Last served with RN           1955 - last Sea Fury squadron disbanded

Serials of the Sea Fury 11 were TF956-TF973, TF985-TF999, TG113-TG129, VR918-VR952, VW224-VW243, VW541-VW590, VW621-VW670,  VW691-VW718, VX608-VX643, VX650-VX696, VX707-VX711, VX724-VX730, VX748-VX764, WF590-WF595, WF610-WF627, WE673-WE694, WE708-WE736, WE785-WE806, WM472-WM482, WM487-WM495, WG564-WG575, WG590-WG604, WG621-WG630, WH581-WH594, WH612-WH623, WJ221-WJ248, WH276-WJ292, WJ294-WJ297, WJ299-WJ301, WN474-WN479, WN484-WN487, and WX627-WX656.

None in 1939-1945, postwar it had significant involvement in the Korean war. Paired with the Fairey Firefly, it provided the "heavy attack" element for the Royal Navy carriers that served in the Korean War.

Sea Furies were used extensively throughout the Korean war, mainly in the ground attack role (with Fireflies), flying from HMS Glory, HMS Ocean, HMS Theseus and the Australian carrier HMAS Sydney. Even in the Korean war the Sea Fury was one of the best of it's type, showing itself on many  occasions to be superior to the more up-to-date enemy jets of the Korean  conflict.



Fleet Air Arm Hawker Seafury y F.B. 11 O-114 of 802 squadron (HMS Ocean) flown by Lt P "Hoagy" Carmichael on 9 August 1952  shot down a MiG-15 was the first such kill by a piston-engine fighter, and the only kill by a British pilot flying a British aircraft during the Korean War.

 Fleet Air Arm Seafury onboard RN Aircraft Carrier postwar

---

Surviving aircraft and relics

Since the Hawker Seafury went into military retirement relatively recently there are still many surviving Fleet Air Arm examples around the world, with a current estimate of over 68, and quite a few of which are airworthy (43 in 2000). Furies and Sea Furies are also to be seen either on the airshow circuit or possibly competing at the Reno Air Races in Nevada, 13 Sea Furies took part in the September 2000 Reno Air Races. See the following website for descriptions of each of the Fury Reno Air Racers (Fury and Sea Furies in Hawker Web Pages by Harry)

The largest collection of Sea Furies to survive is due to David Tallichet and Ed Jurist who brought 22 Sea Furies from Iraq and were almost killed just getting the planes in 1972. Examples of surviving Sea Furies in the UK include the Royal Naval Historic Flight (UK), Fleet Air Arm Museum (UK), Fighter Collection Duxford, and the Imperial War Museum Duxford. One former RNHF Seafury after it crashed went to Chuck Greenhill (Wisconsin, USA). There are also Seafuries at the The Naval Museum of Alberta (Canada), National Aviation Museum Canada), Aviodome - National Aeronautical Museum, Amsterdam, (Netherlands)

Royal Naval Historic Flight (UK)
Hawker Sea Fury FBII WG655 which crashed in 1991.

Fleet Air Arm Sea Fury WG 655: Former Royal Naval Historic Flight aircraft. WG655 was the last but one Sea Fury T20 built. She was delivered in 1951 to RNAS Anthorn in Cumbria and stored until 1954. She was then transferred to RNAS Eglinton in Northern Ireland in whose colours she was displayed. After her naval service she was purchased by Hawkers and then sold to the Federal German Government, who operated her as a pilot trainer until 1975. As a gift to the Fleet Air Arm, WG655 flew ‘home’ to RNAS Yeovilton in June 1976. After her crash in 1991 she is currently in 2000 completing restoration by Chuck Greenhill, Wisconsin (USA).


Seafury FB11 WJ231 preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum (UK)

Seafury FB11 WJ231 preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum (UK)

Fleet Air Arm Seafury FB.II TF958 of the RNHF

Fleet Air Arm Seafury FB.II TF958 of the RNHF (UK): This aircraft was destroyed in 1989 when the pilot, John Beattie, bailed out and the aircraft crashed into the sea. The cause was an unsafe landing gear indication and he was directed to bail out rather than try a landing. The aircraft carried the markings of a Sea Fury from HMS Theseus during the Korean conflict.



Fleet Air Arm Seafury FB.II VR930 of the RNHF (UK)
Photograph courtesy of Mark Russell Photograph courtesy of Mark Russell THE EX-FRADU HUNTERS Home Page

Fleet Air Arm Seafury FB.II VR930 of the RNHF (UK)
 

Seafury VX653/G-BUCM preserved and airworthy at the Fighter Collection (UK)

Fleet Air Arm Sea Fury VX653/G-BUCM of the Fighter Collection, Duxford (UK
The Fighter Collection's Sea Fury was manufactured by the Hawker Aircraft Company in 1949 under Contract No 6/Acft/2576/C.B.7(b). It was transferred to the Royal                Navy as VX653 and moved to 736 squadron at Culdrose with 47.7 flying hours on the clock. In 1953, after 498 flying hours, the aircraft was completely reconditioned at Donbristle before being transferred to RNAS Gosport. Shortly afterwards, it moved on to RNAS Anthorn and then on to 811 squadron which was based in Arbroath at the time. VX653 was placed in storage in 1955, at 570 flying hours, until it was transferred to Airwork Ltd at Hurn airport. Here it was operated on a very regular basis until 1960 when it transferred to RNAS Lossiemouth in Scotland. It was placed on display at the  Royal Air Force Museum from 1972 before being acquired by the Fighter Collection in a deal wich involved the static restoration of a Hawker Tempest for the Museum, and it was moved to Duxford in 1991.


RAN Seafury WM587 preserved and airworthy

Southern Cross Racing Team Hawker Sea Fury MKB11 "Southern Cross" : This aircraft Finished 9th place in the Gold Unlimited division during the 1997 Reno National Championship Air Races at 378.844 mph. Unique dual wing-tip vortices smoke generators, the ultimate in aerial demonstrations! performs a convincing aerobatic routine in the Hawker Sea Fury (one of the world’s fastest propeller-driven fighter) and is powered by the 3350 Skyraider engine (the Skyraider, being the world’s largest single engine aircraft). Out of this marriage of aircraft and engine evolves the "Southern Cross," the world’s greatest fighter.

Naval Museum of Alberta Sea Fury F.B. II WG 565

Naval Museum of Alberta Fleet Air Arm Sea Fury FBII WG565: One of 615 Sea Fury aircraft built by Hawker. Delivered by the Royal Navy to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1951. Became part of RCN Air Squadron 871 attached to HMCS Magnificent.

War Eagles Air Museum Sea Fury (K-253) 'Magnificent Obsession"

War Eagles Air Museum Sea Fury (K-253) 'Magnificent Obsession"

Iraqi Air Force Sea Fury FB Mk II (c/n37723), Serialled 326/ZK-SFR built for the Iraqi Air Force in 1952. Originally it lacked the wingfold and hook mechanisms of the naval
version - these have subsequently been retrofitted (1992) with parts from the FAA Historic Flight T.20 (WG655) which was written off in an accident on 14 July, 1990.The aircraft has been performing publicly since, and is painted in the plumage of FAA aircraft WJ232. That aircraft, piloted by Lt. Carmichael, successfully intercepted a Soviet Mig15 during the Korean war (9 Aug,1952), while on operations from HMS Ocean.

Sea Fury Miss Merced "87" at the Reno Air Races September 2000  photos copyright ©2000 Mark Johnston.
 

Royal Canadian Navy Sea Fury Argonaut TG114_BC-L_at the Reno Air Races September 2000  photos copyright ©2000 Mark Johnston.
 

Preserved Seafury Sea Fury T Mk.20S N924G VX300 Marked with Fleet Air Arm codes "RN 924/88".
Sanders Aircraft, Chino CA (USA)

---

Associations and reunions

• Royal Naval Historic Flight and The Swordfish Heritage Trust
• Southern Cross Racing Team

                      P.O. Box 122
                      Rexburg, Idaho 83440
                      Phone: (208) 356-7926

RCN Seafury FB Mk11 VF871 HMCS Magnificent 1953

FURTHER INFORMATION   Moore's Aviation website on the Sea Fury Warbird Alley, an online reference source for information about privately-owned, ex-military aircraft. Includes details and specs and a summary total of airworthy aircraft including the Sea Fury. Royal Naval Historic Flight and The Swordfish Heritage Trust The airworthy Sea Furies of the Historic Flight Fury and Sea Fury Hawker Web Pages by Harry Website dedicated to Hawker aircraft - the Typhoon, Tempest, Fury and Seafury, including history, first experiences, location of survivors, Reno races  Fury Reno Air Racers - Fury and Sea Furies in Hawker Web Pages by Harry Website with dedicated summary information about each of the Sea Furies taking part in the Reno races Warbird Alley Warbird Alley, an online reference source for information about privately-owned, ex-military aircraft. Includes details and specs and a summary total of airworthy aircraft including the Sea Fury. Hawker Sea Fury by FAASIG Hawker Sea Fury in close up - FAA Museum Kiwi Aircraft Images by Phillip Treweek See the Kiwi Aircraft Images from New Zealand for detailed images of the Sea Fury. Hawker (Baghdad) Sea Fury details in New Zealand Flightline and the Sea Fury Summary of the Sea Fury aviation career. Includes colour profiles of FAA Sea Fury in squadron markings. Moore Aviation Restoration, Inc. -- Sea Fury FlyPast Magazine - March, 2000 No.200 Flying the Sea Fury by Steve Noujaim Flying the Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 REG: N56SF. Article in the Flypast magazine [pdf] file. Naval Museum of Manitoba DND Photos of Pre-1970 Canadian Naval Air Assets Hawker Fury -- Fury Chapter 1 Last revised: 19 November 1995 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3 by Carl Pettypiece's Hurl Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3 fighter at RAF Pembrey, apparently having mistaken this airfield for a Luftwaffe channel coast airfield. The British were thereby presented with a working example of the Fw 190 fighter, which had been giving the RAF an extremely difficult time. The Hawker Fury design was a direct result of the examination of Faber's Fw 190A-3. Hawker Sea Fury in Action  SQUADRON/SIGNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. No 117. ISBN 0-89747-267-5 Sturtivant, R. & Burrow, M (1995) 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945'  Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1995 ISBN: 085130 232 7

Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000

---

 

Return to Home Page

 

This page is published by Fleet Air Arm Archive and is updated regularly.
© 2000-2001 All rights reserved for all information created for or on behalf of the Fleet Air Arm Archive
Contact email: drucker@fleetairarmarchive.net