The British Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm operated the Hawker Sea Fury from February 1947, initially with 778 Naval Air Squadron’s, Flying Development Unit. The first operational unit was 807 NAS in September 1947 (the Royal Canadian Navy 803 Naval Air Squadron was the first of any nation in August 1947). It remained in front line service until it was replaced by Hawker Sea Hawk and Supermarine Attacker jet fighters from 1953. The Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve continued to operate the Sea Fury until August 1955.
During the Korean War, Sea Furies operated from the British carriers HMS Glory, HMS Theseus and HMS Ocean (along with the Australian HMAS Sydney). Used predominantly for ground attack, they also performed Combat Air Patrols and escorted Fairey Fireflies. A Sea Fury was also credited with shooting down a MiG-15.
Photographs of the Hawker Sea Fury in Royal Navy Service
703 NAS aircraft ranged on deck of HMS Eagle a Sea Fury, a Firebrand, a Firefly, a Sea Hornet, and an Attacker. October 1951The first aircraft to take off from HMS Eagle, a Hawker Sea Fury in October 1951.The pilot who flew the first aircraft off HMS Eagle Lieut S A Hearns DSC RN seen with his Hawker Sea Fury, in the background. October 1951
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VW697 102/R of 804 NAS landing on HMS GloryOne of HMS Glory Sea Fury fighters of 804 Squadron ready for takeoffA Hawker Sea Fury aircraft of 804 Squadron assisted by rockets taking off from HMS Glory. June 1951Hawker Sea Fury of 804 Squadron HMS Glory June 1951 off KoreaA Hawker Sea Fury of 804 Squadron goes down on the flight deck lift June 1951 off KoreaHawker Sea Furies on HMS Glory Korea 1951Hawker Sea Fury on HMS GloryHawker Sea Fury FB.11 taking off from HMS GlorySnow covered Hawker Sea Furies on HMS Glory 1 February 1952Hawker Sea Fury fighters of 804 Squadron on the icy deck of HMS Glory February 1952Hawker Sea Fury F.B.11 Fighter Is catapulted from HMS Glory, during Korean war operationsCrashed Hawker Sea Fury on HMS GloryCrashed Hawker Sea Fury on HMS Glory January 1953Hawker Sea Fury WH620 caught by the overshot arrestor cables on aircraft carrier HMS Glory. 1952-3Naval Airman J Davies of Birmingham, loads the cannon of a Sea Fury with 20mm shells, on HMS Glorycleaning the windshield of Sea Fury in HMS Glory off Korea August 1951Hawker Sea Fury of 804 Squadron being manoeuvred into position on the flight deck of HMS Glory off Korea June 1951
Hawker Sea Fury fighters on HMS IlustriousDutch Hawker Sea Fury on HMS Illustrious on Exercise Mariner 1953Dutch Hawker Sea Fury on HMS Illustrious on Exercise Mariner 1953Dutch Hawker Sea Fury on HMS Illustrious on Exercise Mariner 1953Hawker Sea Fury Crash on HMS IllustriousDutch Hawker Sea Fury Crash on HMS IllustriousHawker Sea Fury Crash on HMS IllustriousHawker Sea Fury Crash on HMS Illustrious25 May 1949. Hawker Sea Fury crash aboard HMS Illustrious.25 May 1949. Hawker Sea Fury crash aboard HMS Illustrious. The pilot being assisted from the scene of the crash by an officer.Hawker Sea Fury on HMS Illustrious, during Exercise Mariner 1953Hawker Sea Fury on HMS Illustrious, during Exercise Mariner 1953
HMS Ocean with Fairey Fireflies and Hawker Sea Furies on deckLieutenant Peter Carmichael, RN, of Bayonne Valley, Anglesey, alighting from his Sea Fury aircraft on the flight deck after shooting down a MiG-15Lieutenant E Bowman, RN, a Canadian member of 898 Squadron, part of HMS Ocean’s Air Group leaves his Sea FurySea Furies and Fireflies ranged on the flight deck of HMS Ocean. 11 July 1952Hawker Sea Fury fighters of Nos 807, 810, and 898 Squadrons, stowed on HMS OCEAN 1951A Hawker Sea Fury, with RATOG (Rocket Assisted Take Off Gear), taking off from the carrier HMS Ocean in Sasebo Harbour, JapanHawker Sea Fury landing on HMS OceanHawker Sea Fury crash on HMS OceanHawker Sea Fury crash on HMS OceanHawker Sea Fury crash on HMS Ocean
Snow falls as aircrewmen of HMS Theseus prepare Sea Fury fighters for operations in Korean waters.Sea Fury taking off from HMS Theseus for a sortie against the enemy in Korea. In the foreground a Firefly is being brought into position.A Sea Fury aircraft landing on HMS Theseus following a sortie against the enemy in Korea.A Sea Fury being moved into position for launching on HMS Theseus for a sortie against the enemy in Korea.Hawker Sea Fury and Firefly aircraft of the snowy deck of HMS TheseusSea Fury and Firefly aircraft of the deck of HMS Theseus off the Korean coast, 8th December 1950Hawker Sea Fury on HMS Theseus in a mid-winter storm off the West Coast of Korea 8 December 1950HMS Theseus with Hawker Sea Fury and Fairey Firefly aircraft lined up on its snow covered flight deck while off KoreaAircrewmen re-arming a Sea Fury of HMS Theseus in Korean watersRearming a Sea Fury on Theseus. Handling 20mm ammunition April 1951 KoreaSea Furies of 804 Squadron are seen on the flight deck of HMS Theseus 20 September 1952Sea Fury landing on HMS Theseus during fleet exercises March 1952Sea Furies on HMS Theseus during fleet exercises March 1952A stork perches on a Hawker Sea Fury is likely to be an aircraft from 802 Squadron on HMS Theseus during her 1951-1952 cruise in Korean watersSea Furies and Fireflies on HMS Theseus during fleet exercises March 1952A Hawker Sea Fury ready for take off from HMS TheseusA Hawker Sea Fury seen after a hard landing on HMS Theseus 1953Fairey Firefly being maneuvered on HMS Theseus. Hawker Sea Fury fighters further up the deckHawker Sea Fury on HMS TheseusHMS Theseus with Hawker Sea Fury fighters on deck
Preparing a Sea Fury for service on board HMS Unicorn. Jan 1951Air Mechanics servicing planes on board HMS Unicorn ready for flying off to HMS Theseus.A Sea Fury flying off HMS Unicorn. Jan 1951A Sea Fury flying off HMS Unicorn to fly to HMS Theseus. Jan 1951
Hawker Sea Fury FB II’s from 802 Sqn. in formation during HMS Vengeance visit to C.T. in Nov. 1948HMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deckHMS Vengeance undergoing Arctic Trials during February and March 1949. Fairey Firefly and Sea Fury aircraft on deck
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11s of 881 NAS from HMS Warrior parked with wings folded at Kuala Lumpur in October 1954Hawker Sea Fury FB.11s of 881 NAS from HMS Warrior parked with wings folded at Kuala Lumpur in October 1954Hawker Sea Fury FB.11s of 881 NAS from HMS Warrior parked with wings folded at Kuala Lumpur in October 1954Hawker Sea Fury and Fairey Firefly aircraft on HMS WarriorHawker Sea Fury and Fairey Firefly aircraft on HMS WarriorHawker Sea Fury HMS Warrior 11 Nov 1954 during a visit to Port Elizabeth South Africa
NAS 738
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VX652 of 738 Sqn at CuldroseHawker Sea Fury T.Mk.20 VX308 of 738 Sqn at CuldroseHawker Sea Fury FB.11 VX652 of 738 Sqn at CuldroseHawker Sea Fury FB.11 VR936 of 738 Sqn, normally based at Culdrose undertakes a missed approach on an unknown carrierHawker Sea Fury FB.11 of 738 Sqn with RATOG equipment fitted
NAS 778
A 778 Sqn Hawker Sea Fury normally based at Lee-on-Solent on a carrier
NAS 802
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 TF963 of 802 Sqn at Culdrose up on jacks and trestlesHawker Sea Fury FB.11 from 802 NAS in 1953
NAS 805
805 NAS Hawker Sea Furies Dec 1948 two Mk.X (110 TF925 and 106 TF952) and an FB.11 (107) VR950
NAS 810
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 with 810 NAS at Ford
NAS 881
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11s of 881 NAS from HMS Warrior parked with wings folded at Kuala Lumpur in October 1954Hawker Sea Fury FB.11s of 881 NAS from HMS Warrior parked with wings folded at Kuala Lumpur in October 1954Hawker Sea Fury FB.11s of 881 NAS from HMS Warrior parked with wings folded at Kuala Lumpur in October 1954
Hawker Sea Fury Prototypes
The Centaurus-powered first prototype Hawker Fury, NX798Hawker Sea Fury prototype NX802 later sold to PakistanHawker Sea Fury SR661 First Sea Fury Prototype SR661With arrester hook and folding wings, SR666 was the first fully-navalised Hawker Sea Fury prototypeHawker Sea Fury prototype SR666Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk.X prototypeHawker Sea Fury FB Mk.X prototype TF988Hawker Fury VX818 the prototype of the 2 seat trainer for Iraq
Hawker Sea Fury F.10
The first production Hawker Sea Fury F10 (TF895) in August 1946Hawker Sea Fury Mk.X TF895Hawker Sea Fury Mk.X TF952Hawker Sea Fury Mk.X TF906Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk XHawker Sea Fury FB Mk XHawker Sea Fury FB Mk XHawker Sea Fury F.10Hawker Sea Fury F.10Hawker Sea Fury F.10Hawker Sea Fury F.10Hawker Sea Fury F.10The first production Hawker Sea Fury F10 (TF895) in August 1946
Hawker Sea Fury FB.11
The first production Hawker Sea Fury FB11 (TF988) in November 1947The first production Hawker Sea Fury FB11 (TF988) in November 1947.Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 TF968 Hawker Sea Fury FB 11 TF988Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 TG120Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VW564Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 VX653Sea Fury FB.Mk.11 VX653Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 WE728 027 was with Airwork FRU at Hurn from November 1957 to May 1960Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 WF619Hawker Sea Fury FB.11 WZ627Hawker Sea Fury FB 11
Hawker Sea Fury T.20
Hawker Sea Fury T20 prototype VX818Hawker Sea Fury T20 (VX281, ES3615) at Hawker-Siddeley Aircraft Ltd., Langley, Berkshire (UK), in June 1949Hawker Sea Fury T.20, VX818 prototype.Hawker Sea Fury T 20 at Langley.Hawker Sea Fury T 20 at Langley.Hawker Sea Fury T20 WG655Hawker Sea Fury T20Wreck of a Hawker Sea Fury T Mk 20S
