Unmarked Hunter FGA.9 (photo, Philip Evans)

Hawker Hunter * Retired *
12 Hunter FGA.9 flown out from Britain 1962-1963. (The aircraft were originally F.6s, converted by Hawker for the RRAF). 4 Hunter FGA.9 (FGA.Mk 80) and 1 T.7 (T.Mk 81) purchased from Kenya in 1980 by the AFZ. 5 ex-RAF Hunter FGA.9 received from Britain in April 1984, followed by 4 more in 1987, giving a total of 25 FGA.9 aircraft. Used by No.1 Sqn for the interceptor-fighter role initially, then transferred to the ground-attack and advanced training roles. Nine Hunters were damaged beyond repair in a sabotage attack on 25 July 1982. First ordered early 1963? After sanctions were imposed, spare parts became hard to acquire. RhAF Hunters were kept flying with parts recovered from ex-RAF spares dumps in Oman and Sharjah. Withdrawn from service in early 2002. Known crash dates without identities are April 2001 (4 a/c) and February 1995 (1 a/c).

Hawker Hunter FGA.9, October 1972, taken at Thornhill, Gwelo during the Air Show - one of the very few that were ever held. (photo, Robin D.W.Norton)

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
R8116	41H/679934	XE559	15 Dec 1962	RRAF 116. w/o 25 July 1982
R1817		XJ718	15 Dec 1962	RRAF 117
R1188	41H/679971	XE613	1 Mar 1963	RRAF 118. to Military Museum, Gweru
R1198		XF506	12 Mar 1963	RRAF 119. w/o 25 July 1982, to West Sale, Australia by Sept 2000
R1280	41H/679923	XE548	2 Mar 1963	RRAF 120, w/o 10 June 1976
R1821	41H/680081	XG295	2 Mar 1963	RRAF 121, w/o 4 Oct 1979
R8122	41H/680080	XG294	5 Apr 1963	RRAF 122. w/o 25 July 1982
R1823		XJ638	5 Apr 1963	RRAF 123, w/o 28 Oct 1970
R1284		XJ716	19 Apr 1963	RRAF 124
R1258		XF504	19 Apr 1963	RRAF 125
R1286	41H/679935	XF560	15 May 1963	RRAF 126. w/o 25 July 1982?
R1827		XF374	15 May 1963	RRAF 127. w/o 25 July 1982
R8100	41H/670712	KAF803	1981	FGA.80, WT755/KAF803. w/o 25 July 1982
R1801	HABL/003127	KAF804	1981	FGA.80A, XF972/KAF804.
R1082	41H/670735	KAF805	1981	FGA.9, WT778/KAF805. w/o 25 July 1982
R1038	HABL/003070	KAF806	1981	FGA.9, XF309/KAF806. w/o 25 July 1982
R1084		KAF802	1981	T.81, XL604/KAF802
R1805	S4U/3357	XF511	10 Apr 1984
R8106		XF519	10 Apr 1984
R1807	41H/680032	XG207	10 Apr 1984
R1088		XG155	10 Apr 1984
R1098	S4U/3292	XF416	10 Apr 1984
R1180		XF431	30 Sept 1987	wfu by Feb 1998
R1811		XG228	30 Sept 1987
R8112	S4U/3295	XF419	5 Oct 1987
R1813	41H/688074	XJ683	5 Oct 1987

References:

1. Rhodesian Air Force, A Brief History 1947-1980 (W A Brent, 1987)
2. Britain's Rebel Air Force (Roy Nesbit & Dudley Cowderoy, 1998)
3. African Military Aviation (W A Brent, 1994)
4. Wings of Fame Volume 20 (Aerospace Publishing, 1998)
5. Take Off No.89 (Aerospace Publishing Ltd, 1990)
6. Scramble No.279 August 2002
7. Air (WLAG) November 1989