WV908 over the Somerset Levels. [© HMS Heron Photographic Section]

Originally designed by the Hawker Aircraft Company, the Sea Hawk F.1 first entered front-line service with 806 Squadron in 1953 (later referred to as "Ace of Diamonds" due to the Ace of Diamonds emblem on the aircraft fuselage). When the Hawker Hunter was placed on Super Priority order for the Royal Air Force, construction of the Sea Hawk F.2 passed to the Armstrong-Whitworth Aircraft Company under licence. The fighter bomber variant, the FB.3, first flew in March 1954 and became the most widely used variant, seeing service with Nos 700, 736, 738, 764, 767, 787, 800, 801, 806, 897 and 898 Squadrons serving both ashore and afloat. The FGA.4 was intended as the definitive ground support version, but suffered from poor engine performance. In 1954 Rolls-Royce introduced the more powerful Nene 103, about 50 FB.3s being refitted with these engines to become FB.5s and FGA.4s receiving the same treatment to become FGA.6s.

Five Naval Air Squadrons, Nos 800, 802, 804, 897 and 899, flying from the aircraft carriers Albion, Bulwark and Eagle were called to give support to the Anglo-French excursion at Suez in November 1956. In the absence of Royal Air Force close support (the RAF Hunter F.5s in Cyprus possessing neither the low level nor clearance to deliver anything but gunfire) the Royal Navy provided all of the British ground attack effort, and the Sea Hawks (with de Havilland Sea Venoms providing fighter escort) pressed home many attacks against Egyptian shore targets, often in the face of heavy ground fire. After Suez, the Sea Hawk's days were numbered and they began to phase out of operational service in 1958, being replaced by the much larger and more potent Supermarine Scimitar. By 1960 they had been fully relegated to second-line duties with training squadrons and the civilian-run Fleet Requirements Unit.

The Sea Hawk also saw export success, seeing service with the Marineflieger in West Germany, Dutch and Indian Navies, with the latter only replacing their aircraft as late as 1983.

Sea Hawk WV908 [© Lee Howard]

"The office" of WV908 during winter maintenance with the Martin Baker ejection seat removed. [© Lee Howard]

The Royal Navy Historic Flight's Sea Hawk WV908 was built at Baginton, Coventry, in late 1954 as an FGA.4 variant and assembled at the company's Bitteswell airfield before being delivered to the Royal Navy in February 1955. She served initially with 807 Squadron and then 898 Squadron embarked in HMS Ark Royal and HMS Bulwark and ashore at the Royal Naval Air Station Brawdy.

After conversion to FGA.6 standard at the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard Fleetlands in 1957-58 she flew with 806 Squadron until 1960 when she was relegated to second-line duties with 738 Squadron at the Royal Naval Air Station Lossiemouth. In June 1962 the aircraft was sent for storage at the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard Belfast before being loaned to the RAF apprentices school at RAF Halton in March 1971 for use as a systems trainer. She was then acquired by the Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall (which bears the name HMS Seahawk) and restored to flying display condition in 1977-78 before finally transferring to RNAS Yeovilton to fully join the RNHF in September 1982.

After a period of storage she re-flew briefly in 1989 before being taken to British Aerospace's Dunsfold works for a complete refurbishment which was completed in 1996. She is now resplendent in the markings she wore when servicing with 806 Squadron at the end of her front-line career aboard HMS Albion and is currently unique in being the only airworthy Sea Hawk in the World.