This site is dedicated to all those who flew, maintained, designed and built the de Havilland Hornet and Sea Hornet, spanning its development and subsequent operational career, with the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. The Hornet type DH.103 was designed by the de Havilland Aircraft Company of Hatfield in Hertfordshire, UK as a high speed, long range fighter. A mock-up was prepared during January 1943, with major design and development work following shortly after, and eventual first flight of prototype RR915 being on 28th July 1944. Production of the aircraft was initiated at Hatfield, but it eventually moved to Chester because of demands on Hatfield’s production lines made by other types under development such as the Dove and Comet airliner. Design and development of the Sea Hornet was passed to the Heston Aircraft Company. Further development was carried out at the Aircraft and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) at Boscombe Down, Wiltshire to pass the aircraft through official armament and handling trials, before introduction into squadron service.
There were four RAF versions of the Hornet: The F.Mk.1, PR.Mk.2. F.Mk.3, and the F.Mk.4. The first F.Mk.1 entered service with 64 Squadron at Horsham St.Faith, Norfolk, UK, in May 1946. The last F.Mk.3 and 4’s were withdrawn from service while in Malaya, some nine years later in May 1955.
There were three Fleet Air Arm versions of the Sea Hornet: The F.Mk.20, NF.Mk.21, and the PR.Mk.22. The first F.Mk.20 entered service with 801 Squadron at Ford, UK, in July 1947. The last Sea Hornets were still operational with some second line units in the UK, after ten years service in February 1957.
A total of 393 aircraft were produced. This figure was made up from 2 prototypes, 207 Hornets, and 184 Sea Hornets. All are thought to have been scrapped, as no complete survivor is known to exist.
1/48th Hornet F.1 model painted to represent PX274. Model by David Collins.
Peter Sheppard - Hornet aircrew and ground crew liaison, can be contacted:
phone on: +44 (0) 1285 642997 or by email as: dhhornet50@hotmail.com
David Collins - Hornet Project Manager, can be contacted:
by phone on: +44 (0) 781 666 0476 or by email as: dcollins103@hotmail.com
For any questions or suggestions about this website please contact David Collins.
