33 Squadron
Carrying a pair of 250-pounders and two of its four rocket projectiles, a Hornet F.3 of 33 Squadron is seen during a strike. Hornets were deployed to the Far East Air Force from early 1951 to assist with Operation Firedog, the long-running campaign in Malaya to overcome communist terrorists.
WB880
Hornet F.3 WB880 of the FEAF Training Squadron at Seletar, Singapore, in mid-1954 showing what happens when a pilot selects the undercarriage up too quickly! It is unlikely that it was repaired as it was struck off charge in March 1955.
PX309
Wearing the white/pale blue/red fl ashes of 33 Squadron, a Hornet F.3 – believed to be PX309 – taxying out for the last time at Butterworth in March 1955; prior to departing for Seletar and the scrapheap.
Butterworth
Ground-running a 33 Squadron Hornet F.3 at Butterworth, with another example and a Mosquito in the background. No.33 Squadron converted from Hawker Tempest F.2s to Hornets in April 1951 at Tengah, Singapore and in March 1955 took on the DH Venom NF.2.
45 Squadron
Hornet F.3 WF961 of 45 Squadron at Butterworth moments before it was started up and ferried through to the scrap dump at Seletar in May 1955. No.45 Squadron converted from Bristol Brigand B.1s at Tengah in March 1951. It was the last operational unit to fl y the Hornet, changing over to DH Vampire FB.9s in May 1955.
All images courtesy of Key Archives.
