The de Havilland Sea Hornet was a navalised version of the Hornet, which incorporated folding wings, fuselage strengthening to allow for the arrested landings and modified landing gear. A total of 79 Sea Hornet F.20s were built.
A night fighter variant incorporated a second cockpit to the rear of the fuselage above the wing trailing edge. The radar operator faced aft under a clear bubble canopy that could be jettisoned in an emergency. The small rotating ASH radar dish was housed under an elongated “thimble” radome in the nose. Production of the Sea Hornet NF.21 came to 72.
The Sea Hornet PR.22 of which 23 were built was a dedicated photo reconnaissance aircraft with the cannon armament removed. Three cameras were installed in the rear fuselage.
De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VV430De Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 Prototype PX230de Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 of No 809 NAS on HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW967 displayed with wings folded at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW957 of 809 Squadron April 1954 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW955 of 809 Sqn based at RNAS Lee on Solentde Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW949 of No 809 Squadron takes off from HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21de Havilland Sea Hornet NF21 VW967 of the Airwork FRU at St Davids making a flypast at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s of 809 Sqn on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s including VW957 481J of 809 Sqn on Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet F2.0 and NF.21 aircraft of 809 Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable June 1952de Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 (in front) and Fairey Fireflies on the flight deck of HMS Vengeance May 1950Crashed de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW960 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 cockpit
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW957 of 809 Squadron April 1954 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s of 809 Sqn on HMS EagleCrashed de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW960 on HMS Eagle
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron, then based at RNAS Ford, landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of 801 squadron ranged on deck HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornets F.20s of 801 Squadron in the upper hanger HMS Implacable
De Havilland Sea Hornet PR.22 landing on HMS Indomitable in 1950de Havilland Sea Hornet takes off from HMS Indomitable June 1952de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VZ715 being armed on board HMS Indomitablede Havilland Sea Hornet F2.0 and NF.21 aircraft of 809 Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable June 1952HMS Indomitable with a Sea Hornet on her flight deck
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 of No 809 NAS on HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF 21 (in front) and Fairey Fireflies on the flight deck of HMS Vengeance May 1950
Naval Air Squadron Operators of the Sea Hornet
Airwork Fleet Requirements Unit
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF21 VW967 of the Airwork FRU at St Davids making a flypast at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955
728 Fleet Requirements Unit
De Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 728 Fleet Requirements Unit, Hal Far, Maltade Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 at Hal Far Malta 728 Sqn
801 Squadron
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VZ708 of 801 Sqn from Implacable over Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 801 Sqn photographed while based at RNAS Fordde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron, then based at RNAS Ford, landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VR837 of 801 Sqnde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron unhooked and wings folded after landing on HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of 801 squadron ranged on deck HMS Implacablede Havilland Sea Hornets F.20s of 801 Squadron in the upper hanger HMS Implacable
806 Squadron
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 806 Naval Air Squadron flying over Niagara Falls. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron flying over Toronto Island. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron, piloted by Lieut Martin, flying over the Peace Bridge, Niagra. International Air Exhibition September 1948
809 Squadron
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW957 of 809 Squadron April 1954 on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW949 of No 809 Squadron takes off from HMS Vengeancede Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW955 of 809 Sqn based at RNAS Lee on Solentde Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s including VW957 481J of 809 Sqn on Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s of 809 Sqn on HMS Eaglede Havilland Sea Hornet F2.0 and NF.21 aircraft of 809 Squadron on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable June 1952
Sea Hornets at Land Bases
Gibraltar (HMS Rooke)
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21s including VW957 481J of 809 Sqn on Gibraltarde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VZ708 of 801 Sqn from Implacable over Gibraltar
Hal Far Malta
De Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 728 Fleet Requirements Unit, Hal Far, MaltaDe Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 VR856 based at Hal Far Maltade Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 at Hal Far Malta 728 Sqn
RNAS Ford (HMS Peregrine)
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20s of No 801 Sqn photographed while based at RNAS Fordde Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 801 Squadron, then based at RNAS Ford, landing on HMS Implacable
RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus)
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW955 of 809 Sqn based at RNAS Lee on Solent
RNAS Stretton (HMS Blackcap)
de Havilland Sea Hornet NF21 VW967 of the Airwork FRU at St Davids making a flypast at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955de Havilland Sea Hornet NF.21 VW967 displayed with wings folded at RNAS Stretton, Cheshire, in 1955
Trial Units and Deployments
Winter Trials
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 TT193 was sent to Edmonton, Alberta, for winter trials in 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 TT193 was sent to Edmonton, Alberta, for winter trials in 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 TT193 was sent to Edmonton, Alberta, for winter trials in 1948
International Air Exhibition September 1948
de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron, piloted by Lieut Martin, flying over the Peace Bridge, Niagra. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of No 806 Squadron flying over Toronto Island. International Air Exhibition September 1948de Havilland Sea Hornet F.20 of 806 Naval Air Squadron flying over Niagara Falls. International Air Exhibition September 1948