CAF Memphis Squadron's Hawker Sea Fury FB.11

The Memphis Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is the owner and operator of this magnificent Hawker Sea Fury FB.11, based at Gen. DeWitt Spain airport in Memphis, TN. and is available for a 10-15 minute aerobatic routine, airshows, flybys and film.

One of the fastest piston engine aircraft ever built, Hawker's magnificent Sea Fury/Fury has always had the ability to inspire awe amongst everyone from airport kids to jet fighter pilots. It continues to attract fans at airshows and air races around the world and leaves most other aircraft of the era well behind.

Hawker was designated to work on the land-based version, the Fury, and responsibility for the naval conversion was assigned to Boulton-Paul Aircraft Ltd. In April of 1944 contracts were placed for 200 aircraft for each the Royal Air Force and Fleet Air Arm. The first Sea Fury prototype flew on February 21, 1945, but the first full naval version with folding wings did not fly until October 12, 1947.

The Sea Fury was to see significant involvement in the Korean War, mainly in the ground attack role alongside the Fairey Firefly. The aircraft also had the distinction of shooting down a Mig-15, the first by a piston engine fighter, this being achieved by an 802 Squadron aircraft flown by Lt. P. Carmichael on August 9, 1952.

This Sea Fury was built in 1951 by Hawker and accepted into the Fleet Air Arm during 1953. Records show that the  aircraft was withdrawn from service and stricken off charge in November 1952. It was one of numerous Sea Furies purchased by Hawker for rebuilding for foreign customers. However, the  contract involving this specific airplane fell through and in 1966 the plane was donated to an aviation museum. The airplane was shuffled to different locations, but in 1983 it was purchased at auction by Patrick Luscombe. Registered G-SALY,
Luscombe and his crew worked on the airplane to bring it back to airworthy condition with the eventual goal of an assault on the piston-engine speed record. However, this never happened and the airplane was sold to another British collector before being purchased by Ed Stanley in 1990 and shipped to California.

Dr. David Peeler acquired the Sea Fury WJ288 as a project in 1993 from the Ed Stanley estate. The airplane had been completely disassembled and was in the initial stage of restoration at Aero Trader in Chino, CA.

With the sale, the project was transported to Sanders Aircraft in Ione, CA where extensive ground-up restoration continued for approximately 2 years. The project was then transported to Gerry Beck's Tri State Aviation in Wahpeton, ND for the remainder of the restoration.

The Sea fury flew from 1998 to 2003 at numerous airshows and was donated to the CAF by Dr. Peeler in December 2005. A sponsor group was formed and a newly overhauled Wright R-3350-26WD was acquired from Aircraft Cylinder and Turbine in Los Angeles, CA. Gary Austin and a group of volunteers from Memphis Squadron of the CAF installed the engine in September 2006. After several hours of break-in time, the Sea Fury was flown to Midland, TX for the CAF's Airshow 2006.

This Sea fury is currently based at the Gen. DeWitt Spain airport in Memphis, TN. and is sponsored by David Peeler, Larry Lumpkin, Morris Ray and Doug Matthews.

Photo Gallery

Contact