HAWKER FURY No 16

Silver Period Stunner The Hawker Fury was a classic RAF biplane fi ghter of the 1930s. Malcolm V Lowe tells the story of this notable pre-war design and its operational service

ell-known company successful biplane designs 1920s. They diverged to create development airframe first was serving in Britain and around a family of light bombers and flew in June 1928 and was Wa very busy aviation the world. It was then in the two-seat fighters on the one immediately successful. It designer and manufacturer process of developing the iconic hand, and a highly successful confirmed Hawker’s basic during the inter-war decades Hurricane monoplane fighter, single-seat fighter on the other. design layout of an all-metal of the 1920s and 1930s. which came to be so important The former was the Hart light construction, fabric-covered, A supplier of frontline for Britain’s survival in 1940. Up bomber and its derivatives, single-bay biplane. warplanes to the RAF and to 1933, Hawker was known by while the latter was the Fury This new, straightforward, but Royal Navy, its many iconic its original name of H G Hawker day-fighter. very practical blueprint went products were a symbol of Engineering, a title it had used The Hart traced its origins into production as the Hart Britain’s primary position as since its creation during 1920. back to designs formulated – powered by the Rolls-Royce one of the world’s main centres Hawker’s centred to meet a 1926 official Kestrel V12 inline engine. It of aviation excellence. around two similar designs and requirement for a high- was to set the scene for a whole By the mid-1930s, Hawker lines of development, which performance two-seat light family of useful warplanes. had a stable of famous and had progressed during the later day-bomber. The prototype/ The Hart entered service with

62 FlyPast March 2021 the RAF’s 33 Squadron during single-seat fighter for the RAF, February 1930, and it became and this eventually grew into one of the most widely used the Fury. There were obvious light bombers of its time, with similarities in the design of the several related derivatives single-seat fighter compared coupled with export successes, with the Hart, although the as well as RAF employment. fighter began life with a different powerplant. Fighter genesis Developed to meet official While the Hart was being Specification F.20/27, the new developed, Hawker was also design was initially intended working on the creation of a to be powered by a radial

Hawker Fury Mk.II Specifi cations Powerplant 1 × Rolls-Royce Kestrel VI liquid-cooled V12 inline engine, 640hp (477kW) at 12,500ft (3,810m) Crew 1 Length 26ft 9in (8.15m) Wingspan (upper ) 30ft (9.14m) Empty weight 2,734lb (1,240kg) Maximum take-off weight 3,620lb (1,642kg)

Performance Maximum speed 223mph (359km/h) at 16,500ft (5,029m) Range 270 miles (435km) Service ceiling 29,500ft Armament 2 × .303in synchronised Vickers machine guns in upper forward fuselage

Note: the fuselage length was quoted in some contemporary documents as 26ft 8 3/4in

Hawker Furys of 25 Squadron during a pre-war air defence exercise out of RAF Hawkinge in Kent ALL IMAGES KEY COLLECTION UNLESS STATED

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on the Hornet layout. The resulting machine was slightly different in dimensions and provision was made for an armament of two synchronised .303in machine guns in the upper forward fuselage ahead of the cockpit. However, the name Hornet was dropped, replaced by the much more aggressive-sounding Fury. Designated Fury Mk.I, the first example in this batch was allocated the serial number K1926 and, together with two further airframes, acted as the prototype/development aircraft for this subvariant. The first Mk.I made its aerial debut at on March 25, 1931, with test pilot George ABOVE Hawker Fury Mk.I K1928 (right) leads two other 43 Squadron aeroplanes. Delivered to the unit in the spring of 1931, Bulman at the controls. it ended its days as a ground instructional airframe and is currently undergoing a ground-up restoration with the Cambridge Bomber and Fighter Society – See ‘FlyPast’ April 2020 The new type was a winner engine. However, buoyed by March 1929 from Hawker’s the success of the development Brooklands factory and Fury Mk.I and Mk.II process that had led to the was an instant triumph. RAF Squadrons Hart, Hawker’s designers Named Hornet, the aircraft equipped the new concept subsequently underwent 1 Squadron 2/32-11/38 Tangmere replaced by Hurricane with a Rolls-Royce F.XI inline service evaluation with the 25 Squadron 2/32-10/37 Hawkinge replaced by Demon arrangement. This powerplant British military serial number 41 Squadron 10/37-1/39 Catterick replaced by Spitfire matured as the Kestrel – and J9682, receiving considerable 43 Squadron 5/31-11/38 Tangmere replaced by Hurricane gave the fighter an appearance praise for its speed and 73 Squadron 3/37-7/37 Mildenhall replaced by Gladiator very similar to the Hart, which excellent handling. 87 Squadron 3/37-6/37 Tangmere replaced by Gladiator by then was progressing well Official interest in the new towards full-scale production. fighter led to an initial order Note: During this period, squadron designations were often written with In this new guise with for 21 airframes, during 1930, the prefix (F) to denote they were fighter squadrons, eg 1(F) Squadron. the F.XI, it first flew during of a production model based

 Pilots and groundcrew from 43 Squadron pose with their machines during an inspection. The aircraft on the far right is K1931 which, according to o cial documents, was delivered to the unit during April 1931, then transferred to an aircraft depot in October 1934 KEY COLLECTION

64 FlyPast March 2021 ABOVE Start: engines! Four Hawker Furies of No 1 Squadron visiting Dubendorf, led by Flt Lt E M 'Teddy' Donaldson

hindsight this appears to be a with the availability of the comparatively small total, but Fury’s Kestrel engine were at that time Britain was still often a source of frustration on feeling the negative effects of the aircraft’s production line, the economic crisis of 1929 due to this powerplant also and its aftermath. A direct being needed for several other contemporary of the Hawker contemporary frontline types. type was the , which eventually equipped far Improved model more RAF squadrons but was a Having created the successful much more ponderous and less Fury configuration, Hawker’s streamlined fighter compared designers then sought ways to with the greyhound-like Fury. enhance the design. ABOVE Hawker Fury Mk.I K1938 was written o on July 13, 1938 while on strength with 11 Flying Training School at RAF Wittering, Cambridgeshire. With fuel However, in comparison, the This led to two separate starvation leading to an engine failure, the pilot undertook a forced landing near Fury was more expensive than one-off prototype and Wolverhampton – damaging the aircraft beyond repair the Bulldog, and difficulties development airframes. from the start. Successful the RAF at the forefront of evaluation by the Aeroplane fighter service for some time. and Armament Experimental One of the Fury’s intended Establishment (A&AEE) at roles was the fast interception Martlesham Heath, Suffolk, of incoming bombers, and to confirmed the Fury’s potential. achieve this it had a climb rate When it entered RAF service of some 2,400ft/min. This later in 1931 with 43 Squadron, again was an outstanding it was the first of that figure for the period. organisation’s fighters that Powered by a Rolls-Royce could fly level at more than Kestrel IIS inline engine of 200mph. This benchmark had 525hp for take-off, a total become something of a ‘holy of 118 Fury Mk.I airframes ABOVE Delivered in early 1932, Hawker Fury K2051 was part of the second batch of grail’ at the time, and the Fury’s were allocated British serial 48 Mk.Is rolling out of the factory for the RAF. Serving with 1, 43 and 25 Squadrons, outstanding performance put numbers for RAF service. In it become an instructional airframe in November 1937

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Polished metal

Aluminium (silver) dope

Roundel Blue

Roundel Red

Fury Mk.II, K7266, 41 Squadron, RAF Catterick, Yorkshire, 1938. The aircraft was originally delivered to 25 Squadron on October 2, 1936 before being passed to 41, and it ended its RAF service as an instructional airframe, ‘1571M’, at 6 Maintenance Unit ALL ANDY HAY FLYING ART

66 FlyPast March 2021 Fury Mk.II, K7270, Sqn Ldr A L Paxton, 25 Squadron, RAF Hawkinge, Kent, 1936. The squadron markings were black

Fury Mk.I, 43 Squadron, 1938. Dark Earth and Dark Green camoufl age, port wing under surfaces Night Black, with the starboard wing undersides being white

Fury ‘4W●1’ captured by Spanish Nationalists after rebuild by the fi rm Hispano-Suiza. Sand, green and red-brown camoufl age. Undersides possibly light blue or grey, white wing tips and rudder

Spanish Fury ‘4-1’ of Grupo de Caza Nº 11 in non-standard Republican livery of sand, green and brown, with red wing/fuselage bands

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second production version of Mk.II was of all-metal Unique survivor the Fury, the Mk.II. structure, with fabric covering except for the forward Continuing success fuselage/engine cowling Also produced in panels, which were metal. comparatively small numbers, The type was armed with two the Fury Mk.II was something synchronised .303in Vickers of a stop-gap until full-scale machine guns mounted in the Hurricane production could upper forward fuselage ahead begin. Fitted with the more of the cockpit. This installation powerful Kestrel VI rated at was a traditional layout for a 690hp for take-off, the Fury biplane fighter, reminiscent of Mk.II featured a number the World War One era. of airframe improvements to reduce drag and further Operational strength improve the type’s maximum The Fury flew in RAF frontline speed. It also had an improved service from 1931-39, and The Historic Aircraft Collection’s (HAC) stunning Hawker Fury Mk.I K5674 adorned rate of climb and retained the six fighter squadrons were in its original 43 Squadron markings, at its Duxford, Cambridgeshire home. Built in type’s exceptional handling equipped with the type (listed 1935, the former RAF then South African machine was withdrawn from and aerobatic qualities. This in the table in this article). service with the latter after a forced landing in March 31, 1941 – it was ultimately scrapped. The remains were acquired by HAC during the 1990s and the aircraft was version was also distinctive in The first unit to receive painstakingly restored and returned to the skies on July 30, 2012 being fitted with very smart operational Furys was 43 mainwheel spats. Fury Mk.I Squadron during the spring K1935 acted as the Fury Mk.II of 1931 at RAF Tangmere, The first of these, known for the F.7/30 fighter prototype and development Sussex, officially serving with in some sources as the competition… developed airframe. Eventually, 112 the type from May 1931. One Intermediate Fury, was used separately as the Hawker PV3. examples of the Fury Mk.II of the RAF’s foremost fighter for various tests and trials. It The latter was unsuccessful, were allocated British serials, formations, it operated the was allocated the British civil partly due to its being fitted with production being shared Fury for virtually the whole registration G-ABSE. with the problematic and between the parent company period of the type’s frontline Of greater importance unreliable evaporative-cooled and General Aircraft. RAF service. The unit finally was the elegant and much- Rolls-Royce Goshawk engine. Overall, the Fury featured a gave up its remaining Fury photographed High Speed However, the High Speed straightforward layout that was fighters in the closing weeks of Fury. This was a private Fury itself was a considerable uncomplicated to maintain, 1938 while transitioning to the venture special evaluation asset, and was employed with the type able to operate . aircraft which, among other more usefully for general easily from grass airfields; In particular, service pilots programmes, was used to development work including although crosswind landings were impressed with the Fury’s assess design features for trial flying with the serial onto paved runways had to be excellent performance. One of Hawker’s planned competitor K3586. This directly led to a handled with care. The Fury the principal tasks allocated to

 With the introduction of far superior frontline fi ghters such as the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfi re during the late 1930s, several surviving Furys were transferred to RAF Technical Training Schools as instructional aids. This wingless example carries the serial ‘1910M’ and was photographed in late December 1941

68 FlyPast March 2021 The type continued in RAF service well into the opening phase of World War Two, principally as a trainer. Some were initially painted overall yellow with their metal forward fuselage/engine cowling panels remaining in bare metal. Later, the survivors sported yellow undersides with camouflage on their upper surfaces to illustrate their second-line role. Several were eventually employed as non- flying instructional airframes at the end of their useful lives. A related line of development was the naval fighter, produced for the British Royal Navy’s . Sometimes called a ‘navalised Fury’, in fact there were considerable differences between the two although they shared a common heritage.

Export success The elegant and powerful ABOVE Having fl own the Fury Mk.I, 25 Squadron was the fi rst unit to receive the more powerful Mk.II in the closing weeks of 1936 Fury attracted the attention – nine of which are seen here soon after, during battle fl ight practice with CO Sqn Ldr Harold Down leading in K7270 (closest) of several foreign countries, which duly purchased the RAF Fury squadrons was home Squadrons) were camouflaged the Fury (73 and 87 Squadrons). type. These included , defence against incoming in common with other types; These two units did not fly the , Persia (), enemy aircraft, this interceptor their silver doped fabric, shiny Fury Mk.I – only the Mk.II, and . role being accomplished by the metal panels and colourful and then just for a few months In addition, the South African Fury’s impressive (for its day) unit markings usurped by Dark in 1937. After transitioning to Air Force (SAAF) received a rate of climb. Green and Dark Earth paint. the Gladiator, both eventually number of airframes that had For that reason, Furys The Fury finally passed from ushered in the Hurricane. been allocated British serial were not stationed overseas, RAF frontline service in the However, the end of frontline numbers, including several their principal task being early weeks of 1939. Although it service with these six fighter that had previously served home-based interception is often stated that the type was squadrons was by no means with RAF squadrons. missions. The type was also replaced by the Hurricane, that the cessation of the RAF’s Some export Furys were very an accomplished aerobatic is not wholly the case. Just two association with the Fury. different, though – notably in aircraft, several of the of the six RAF frontline squadrons excelling in this squadrons that flew the Fury discipline. Starring at the converted directly to the Hendon aerial pageants from Hurricane (1 and 43 Sqns). 1933-35, 25 Squadron thrilled Of the rest, 41 Squadron the crowds with formation welcomed the Spitfire, while , its Furys tied 25 Squadron dropped its together while making highly day-fighter role and became dangerous but visually very a night-fighter formation impressive manoeuvres. initially equipped with Hawker In the last weeks of 1936, 25 Demon two-seat fighters. Squadron was the first unit to In fact the Fury Mk.II was not receive the Fury Mk.II, having the last of the RAF’s frontline flown the Mk.I since 1932. biplane fighters, that honour During the Munich Crisis of falling to the . September 1938 most, if not Two of the Fury-equipped ABOVE The Hawker High Speed Fury – K3586 – was used in the development programme that led to the Fury Mk.II. Assigned to the A&AEE, it was eventually all, Furys still in RAF frontline squadrons flew the Gladiator damaged when its undercarriage collapsed and it was later used for ground service (with 1, 41 and 43 following the end of their time on instructional training

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export customer, and received some of the initial Furys off the Hawker production line alongside early Fury Mk.I airframes for the RAF. These initial Yugoslav-operated machines (six in number) are sometimes referred to in published sources as Fury 1A or IA. In fact, Yugoslav Furys were eventually a mixed bag of different types. Additional to a second batch made by Hawker, with cantilever main undercarriage legs similar to the Gloster Gladiator, Yugoslavia also bought a production licence for the type. Two Yugoslav factories, Zmaj and Ikarus, manufactured Furys. According to Yugoslav ABOVE A rare image of the immediate forerunner of the Fury, the Hawker Hornet, wearing its British military serial J9682. This aircraft is sometimes referred to as the prototype of the Fury line, although Hawker considered it to be a separate if related sources, production appears to project MALCOLM V LOWE COLLECTION have run to 40 examples. powerplant – from their RAF contracted during 1934. Three airframes were Furious skies stablemates. Persian Furys, Some of the Hornet-powered supplied to Spain during 1936. It is a little-known fact that the for example, comprised two examples were, apparently, Although they looked similar Hawker Fury flew in combat. distinct batches of airframes later re-engined with the to the RAF’s Fury Mk.I, they In fact, the type was employed similar to the Mk.I, but were . were a somewhat modified in a considerable amount powered by radial engines. An A single example was version powered by a Hispano- of operational service with initial consignment sported a supplied to Norway, powered Suiza 12Xbrs rated at 700hp for several of its export customers. Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial by an Armstrong Siddeley take-off, making them among The first were Furys supplied with a three-bladed propeller. Panther IIIA radial engine. the most powerful examples. to Spain during 1936. They were ordered in 1933. A The three examples built for Local licence-production Acquired by the Spanish further six aircraft were fitted Portugal were based on the of Furys was intended in government’s Aviación Militar, with a Bristol Mercury radial, Fury Mk.I and retained the Spain but didn’t happen. which was the legitimate air driving a two-bladed propeller, Rolls-Royce Kestrel inline unit. Yugoslavia was the first force of Spain, they arrived just

 Seen here at Hawker’s Brooklands airfi eld, K1926 is the fi rst prototype/development example of the Fury Mk.I, together with K1927-K1928. Following a period with the A&AEE and the Royal Aircraft Establishment, it joined 1 Squadron, before ending its days as a ground instructional airframe

70 FlyPast March 2021 with inevitably tragic results. In addition to the significant number shot down by the Germans during several one- sided dogfights, remaining Yugoslav Furys were destroyed on the ground or captured. According to several published sources, the longest- lived Fury examples were some of the Iranian machines, which have been claimed as continuing to soldier on as trainers until 1949. Total production of the Hawker Fury, including Yugoslav-built examples, is nowadays generally accepted to have been around 300 airframes. On count-back of identified serial numbers and actual deliveries, the total is near to – if not exactly – 317 machines, providing the ABOVE An unidentifi ed Hawker Fury destined for Yugoslavia undertakes an air-to-air photography sortie, while test fl ying in the Yugoslav licence manufacture UK. Note this variant is fi tted with a low-drag radiator under the fuselage centre section total is to be relied on. before the at the SAAF’s Waterkloof African Furys, although during Post-war presence broke out during July 1936. training base. However, during 1941 they were withdrawn from A true survivor, one of two The catastrophic conflict in World War Two the type was operational service. ex-RAF Fury Mk.Is still exists Spain lasted from 1936-39, flown in combat by the South in Britain and is airworthy with a large variety of aircraft Africans principally over East Brave but tragic (see p.58-59 and elsewhere in types committed to frontline Africa against the Italians in At the time of the German this feature). sorties. Among them were the Abyssinia, 1 Squadron SAAF in April Separately and unrelated, a three Furys of the Spanish having up to six on hand from 1941, the Fury was one of the spin-off from the Hawker Fury government (Republican) June 1940. important fighter types in design was the Isaacs Fury. This forces, at least two of the three These aircraft were shipped Yugoslav service, alongside was a British homebuilt sporting supplied from Britain flying to Mombasa in Kenya by sea Hawker Hurricanes and biplane, designed by John Isaacs in combat against Nationalist from . Messerschmitt Bf 109Es. and first flown during 1963. (rebel) forces. This included The type proved effective In the early stages of the It was a seven-tenths scale dogfights with Italian-flown for ground-attack, and some German offensive several replica of the Hawker Fury. Fiat CR.32 biplane fighters. sources claim that two Italian- Furys were bravely flown by Approximately 18 of these operated Caproni bombers their Yugoslav pilots against diminutive single-seaters have Behind rebel lines were shot down by South Luftwaffe Bf 109E fighters, been built so far. FP The Furys proved very useful in this role, several Nationalist aircraft being claimed by government aviators. Notably, Republican pilot Andrés Garcia La Calle, flying Fury ‘4-1’, shot down Italian pilot Ernesto Monico in his Fiat CR.32 on August 31, 1936. The Furys were assigned to Grupo de Caza Nº 11, but Fury ‘4-2’ came down behind rebel lines and was subsequently repaired and flown by the Nationalists. Airframe ‘4-3’ was later used for spares to keep ‘4-1’ flying. ABOVE At the time of the Munich Crisis during September 1938, many if not all frontline RAF aircraft wearing the long- In South African service, standing silver fi nish received camoufl age. This formation of very drab Furys was made by 43 Squadron, then based at RAF the Fury acted as a trainer Tangmere in Sussex MALCOLM V LOWE COLLECTION

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