The Hornet, although bearing a strong resemblance to the Mosquito, was a totally different aircraft. The Hornet’s development began in 1942, & first flew in 1944. After the War, the Hornet was scheduled to be cancelled, but its outstanding performance saved it from cancellation, & the Hornet was ordered by the RAF, serving between 1946 & 1956.

The Hornet’s performance attracted the Royal Navy to navalise three Hornet F.Mk1s in 1944, & after successful flight-testing, 79 Sea Hornet F.Mk20s were ordered, deliveries taking place in June 1947. The F.Mk20 served until 1951, after when it was fully replaced by the Sea Hornet NF.Mk21 night-fighter, which had been in service since 1949. The NF.Mk21 served until 1954, & was replaced in 1956 by the de Havilland Sea Venom. The Sea Hornet NF.Mk21 was reassigned to the training of night-fighter radar operators until 1956, after when the remaining NF.Mk20s were scrapped. The last Sea Hornets to be produced were the PR.Mk22s, around 24 being built. They used a single K19B camera at night, & a pair of F52 cameras in the day, these cameras replacing the 20mm cannon in previous models of the Sea Hornet.

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