Camouflage & Markings – Hawker Fury
The Fury, originally named Hornet, first entered service with 43 Squadron RAF in May 1931. Powered by the Rolls-Royce V12 Kestrel IIS, the Fury was the RAF's first interceptor fighter capable of exceeding 200 mph (top speed 207 mph). The relatively high cost of the Fury and economic conditions caused by the Great Depression limited the number of squadrons equipped to only three at once. Number 25 Sqn was renumbered to 41 Sqn at a later stage. The later, Mk.II, version of the Fury was powered by the Kestrel IVS and had a cleaned-up airframe with, most notably to modellers, spats on the undercarriage.
Some Furies were exported in small numbers to foreign air forces, including three to Spain, where they served with the Republican AF. They had a much neater looking sprung undercarriage, and were fitted with the Hispano-Suiza 12Xbr engine.
Yugoslav Furies saw action against Axis forces during the invasion of 1941, ten being destroyed in one action alone on 6th April by Messerschmitt 109's and 110's.
Furies remained in RAF Squadron service until January 1939, long enough to have their silver finish and coloured markings disappear under camouflage paint in 1938. They were replaced by Hurricanes and Spitfires.
Thank you Rick, some different schemes there.
I like the camo 1, Tangmere is near to where we live.
Thanks Simon. Although it was obvious for years that the Furies must have been camouflaged, it wasn't until the 1980's that I finally saw the photo of that one in the RAFM at Hendon. Pity the serial number got overpainted.
Beautiful as usual. I remember building the old Matchbox kit in 1/72 scale. The South African Air Force also used it in the standard RAF dark earth and green scheme. The type was replaced by Hurricanes in SAAF service.
Thanks Morne. My Fury model was made from the early Rareplanes vacform kit in 1/72, first vacform model I made. I was surprised how good the kit was and how easily it went together.
I'd make a guess that the SAAF Furies were ex-RAF aircraft supplied in camouflage finish. I hadn't heard of them before.
Hi Rick, again great looking profiles, the range of marings is really impressive
Thanks Bernd. It's a pity that there weren't more squadrons of Furies to show more of the coloured markings.
Hi Rick
Just a note on this old article. You state No. 25 Squadron was renumbered as No. 41. This wasn't actually so. They were completely separate units. No. 25 was one of the original Fury units transitioning to Demons and Gladiators then Blenheims. No. 41 went from Demons to Furies then to Spitfires.