Country of origin:

Great Britain

Description:

Single-seat twin-engine naval fighter

Power Plant:

[F Mk 20]

Two 1,514 kw (2,030 hp) Rolls Royce Merlin 130 [port – right-hand rotation] and Merlin 131 [starboard – left-hand rotation] twelve-cylinder VEE liquid-cooled engines

Specifications:

Armament:

Four 20 mm British Hispano cannon; provision for two 454 kg (1,000 lb) bombs or eight 27 kg (60 lb) rockets

History:

Following the success of the Mosquito, de Havilland prepared a new design intended to be a long-range medium-altitude single-seat fighter, which could also be used as an unarmed photo reconnaissance aircraft, or as a fighter bomber. Named the Hornet, it was a mid-wing monoplane of composite wood and metal construction powered by two two-handed Rolls Royce Merlin engines.

The first of two prototypes (RR915) flew on 28 July 1944 and the first production aircraft was delivered on 28 February 1945 but was too late to see service in World War II. The type was produced at the de Havilland facilities at Hatfield in Hertfordshire, Chester in Cheshire and Hawarden in Wales.

First production model was the F Mk 1 for the RAF, 44 initially being delivered. The type served with Nos 41, 64 and 65 Squadrons. In addition, Nos 33, 45 and 80 Squadrons used the type in the Middle East, operating against terrorists from Butterworth in North Malaya, from Tengah in Singapore, and from Kai Tak in Hong Kong. In the Malayan campaign it operated alongside RAF Bristol Beaufighters and Supermarine Spitfires, and RAF and RAAF Avro Lincolns.

One F Mk 1 Hornet (PX224) was flown in the Lympne High Speed Handicap Race in Kent on 31 August 1946 and achieved an average speed of 552.79 km/h (343.5 mph). Another (PX286) took part in the National Air Races at Elmdon in Essex on 30 July 1949 when it achieved 593.83 km/h (369 mph).

The third production aircraft (PX212) became the prototype for the Sea Hornet, development work being carried out by the Heston Aircraft Company in Middlesex, the first Sea Hornet flying on 19 April 1945. This involved the installation of folding wings, an arrester hook, and a three-point fitting for carrier catapult take-offs. Later the PR Mk 22 and 23 models appeared, these having the armament removed and  dedicated to photo reconnaissance duties with two F.52 and a K.19B cameras installed.

Sea Hornets served with a few Royal Navy units on board carriers, including ‘HMS Implacable’, ‘HMS Illustrious’, ‘HMS Magnificent’, ‘HMS Vengeance’ and ‘HMS Indomitable’.

Production of the series amounted to 198 aircraft for the RAF and 172 Sea Hornets for the Fleet Air Arm. The type only had a relatively short life and was withdrawn from service by October 1955. Almost all aircraft were scrapped. No complete airframe is known to have survived.

One (TT913) was operated in Canada in 1951 as a civil photographic aircraft and operated with underwing fuel tanks but the naval equipment removed. It had registration CF-GUO allotted and had a gross weight of 8,482 kg (18,700 lb). The remains of this aircraft were located on a farm in 1997 near Calgary, Alberta and subsequently were obtained by Pioneer Aero of Ardmore, New Zealand for restoration.

This aircraft first flew at Hatfield on 24 April 1947 and served with No 47 Maintenance Unit at RAF Sealand in Wales. It went to Canada for cold weather testing in December 1948 at Watson Lake in the Yukon for about four months. After retirement in December 1950 it was obtained by William Ferderber and was ferried to Ottawa where it was sold to Spartan Air Services, being registered CF-GUO. In mid 1952 it operated with cameras at altitudes up to 10,973 m (36,000 ft) crewed by a pilot and camera operator. On 11 July 1952 engine problems caused a forced landing at Terrace Airport, British Colombia.

A spare Merlin 134 engine was not available and the aircraft was retired and abandoned. In the mid 1950s it was cut up and taken to a rubbish tip. The remains were recovered in the early 1990s and taken to a farm near Acme, north of Calgary where it was stored until conveyed to New Zealand for restoration.

On 11 June 1948 a Sea Hornet F Mk 20 (TT213) was delivered to No 1 Aircraft Depot of the RAAF and allotted the serial A83-1. This machine was on loan to the RAAF from the British Ministry of Supply to carry out tropical trials with the Australian Research and Development Unit (ARDU), and was then based at Laverton. It was assembled and issued to the ARDU on 10 September, then based at Laverton. At that stage it had completed 7 hrs and 25 minutes flying time. It was not sent to Australia for evaluation by the RAAF or the RAN but for tropical trials. Additional test equipment was installed and the machine was flown to Darwin, NT, being flown via Mallala, Oodnadatta, Alice Springs and Daly Waters, by this time having completed 22 hrs 45 minutes.

The tropical trials were extensive and included investigations in relation to structural integrity, cockpit conditions, engine performance, radio performance, armament testing and general handling. Dusty conditions were not experienced during testing. It was planned to fly the aircraft to Woomer, SA for further testing but this did not occur. Reports on its performance were prepared by the ARDU and the Aeronautical Research Laboratories.

After staying in Darwin for a year the aircraft returned to Laverton, leaving Darwin on 13 December 1949 and arriving the following day. By this time it had flown 105 hrs 55 mins. During 1950 very little flying was carried out, the aircraft recording only a further 28 hrs 45 mins. It was returned to No 1 Aircraft Depot (AD) on 20 October 1950, prepared for shipment to the United Kingdom and left on the ‘SS Miranai’ on 17 January 1951, being struck off RAAF strength on 2 February 1951. At all times it retained its Royal Navy serial and colour scheme and the RAAF serial was not painted on the aircraft.

The Sea Hornet ended its days with No 771 Fleet Requirements Unit at Hurn in Dorset and, after the type was withdrawn from service in October 1955, was scrapped in 1956.

The Hornet was primarily of wooden construction and was of exceptionally clean design with an outstanding performance.