Formed in 1937 as reorganized British Marine Aircraft Co,
Hamble;
43/37
became Hamble Division, Hawker Siddeley Aviation,
1959. Undertook subcontract work on Bristol
Blenheim and Beaufort, de Havilland Mosquito and Hornet,
Short Sunderland and Supermarine Spitfire, among others.
First original
Fo.139 "Midge"
design was Fo 108 engine testbed aircraft,
12 built to Specification 43/37. Further subcontract participation
in Comet, Sea Vixen, Britannia, Hunter, and HS
748 programs. Lightweight fighter designed
Fo.141 "Gnat"
by W. E. W.
Petter flown initially as Fo 139 Midge, then as Fo 141 Gnat
with Bristol Orpheus engine. Sold to Finnish and Indian Air
Forces as fighter aircraft and developed as Fo 144 Gnat
T.1 trainer for the RAF.
