FURIES IN IRAQ

Flight Journal, Dec 2004 by Coggan, Paul

THE ONGOING IRAQ WAR HAS expanded the list of known Hawker Fury survivors by three airframes; one of these, identified by the manufacturer's construction plate as a T.20 version, is the only known surviving two-seater. Jeff Bell sent me several exciting images of a Hawker Fury T.20, which looks to be in remarkably good condition following its capture by British forces at Shaibah, and two less complete single-seat airframes that sat derelict, but recognizable, nearby. Jeff said, "The two-seater was dismantled and placed on a trailer, which was ready for shipment to the UK. And despite years of just sitting there, the prop still rotated!"

The two single-seaters were at a dump and devoid of paint, though the Iraqi markings were still visible. Jeff noticed the three aircraft during his tour of duty at Basrah from June to October 2003.

The Iraqi government ordered 30 Hawker Furies in December 1946. Known within Hawker as the "Baghdad Furies," deliveries began in 1948, and the following year, two T.20 trainer versions were delivered. Eventually, another three two-place and 25 single-seaters were ordered and delivered to Iraq in 1953 (some sources say four two-seaters were delivered). This is, according to my records, the only surviving ex-Iraqi Fury T.20.

-Paul Coggan