Dates

Event

Circa 1955

Constructed as a Sea Hawk FGA.6 by Armstrong Whitworth at Bagington, Coventry.

10 January 1956

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Navy with s/n XE489.

10 January 1956

Transferred to R N A S Abbotsinch.

From January 1957 to July 1958

Transferred to R N A S Hal Far, Malta.

By January 1959

Transferred to R N A S Lossiemouth.

From 22 January 1959 to 12 March 1959

Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.

By July 1959

Transferred to R N A S Brawdy.

July 1960

Transferred to R N A Y Fleetlands.

By January 1961

Transferred to R N A S Abbotsinch.

17 June 1961

Transferred to Fleet Requirements Unit, Hurn.

By April 1963

Markings Applied: 026
Overall black c/s with Leigh light in a specially modified port drop tank.

From 3 September 1963 to 11 October 1963

Transferred to R N A Y Sydenham.
For overhaul.

Overhauled at unknown time using parts of Sea Hawk FGA6 XE364 and rear fuselage of WM983.
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By May 1967

Struck off Strength/Charge from the Royal Navy.

20 May 1967

Last flight.
Hurn to Southend.

22 May 1967

To Historic Aircraft Preservation Society, Southend.

Circa 1970

Markings Applied: 485, J
In 1956 Suez Campaign markings of 899Sqn on HMS Eagle.

31 January 1971

Photographer: AAAA Terry Jacobs 31-1-1971 and 19-12-2018
Notes: XE489 026 Armstrong Whitworth built Hawker Sea Hawk FGA6 c/n 6385 Built 195510-1-1956 Delivered to the Royal Navy until 5-1967 - when Surplus to Requirements.20-5-1967 - Last flight to Southend Airport, Essex. for the H.A.M-Southend.18-10-1970 We towed 489 from the airports eastern-perimeter down the main-runway to the new complex of the Historic Aircraft Museum-Southend (off-airport site).1972 saw the official-opening of the museum and subsequently 489 was repainted as XE364 485 J to represent an aircraft of 899 Sqn. serving with HMS EAGLE. Those markings and the paint-scheme were purely fictitious.!!! 1982 saw the closure of the museum - due largely to lack of public-attendance and running costs etc. and subsequently the aircraft were put-up for auction. 10-8-1983 As acquired by Brencham Ltd., the aircraft had been moved to (Hurn Airport). It was considered a possibility of restoring this airframe to flying condition, but that was not to be achieved. 10-8-19

31 January 1971

Photographer: AAAAAAA Terry Jacobs 31-1-1971 and 19-12-2018
Notes: As photographed at the Historic Aircraft Museum-Southend on 31-1-1971, prior to the museums official opening and prior to the serial and paint-scheme changes applied there.

14 May 1974

Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: Sea Hawk FGA.6 XE 489 marked as XE 364 of 899 Squadron aboard HMS Eagle and displayed at the Historic Aircraft Museum at Southend Airport.

From 10 August 1983 to 6 January 1988

To Brencham Historic Aircraft Company Limited with new c/r G-JETH.

18 August 1984

Photographer: Robert Nichols
Notes: at TVS Airshow Hurn

Markings Applied: XE364
Overall red c/s.

10 October 1987

Placed on display with Gatwick Aviation Museum, London Gatwick Airport, Crawley, Surrey, England.
View the Location Dossier

6 January 1988

To PG Vallance Ltd, Vallance By-Ways, Charlwood, Horley keeping c/r G-JETH.

15 December 2009

Civil registration, G-JETH, cancelled.

By 2010

Markings Applied: 485, J
Repainted as XE364 of 899Sqn aboard HMS Eagle (without Suez Campaign yellow and black stripes).

8 June 2013

Photographer: Jon Wickenden
Notes: 2013 photo at Gatwick Aviation Museum

12 January 2014

Photographer: Michael Vickers
Notes: 2014 photo taken at Gatwick Airport Museum - Sea Hawk XE489 marked as XE364

12 November 2021

Photographer: Michael Gaylard