Fairey Firefly Mk. VI

Photo of Fairey Firefly Mk. VI

 Click on one of the thumbnails below to access the 26 photos of this aircraft.

A rare photo of the Museum's Firefly in the early 1950s when it served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, at Ford, UK.
In 1978, the Museum located a Firefly in Australia and purchased it from the Camden Museum of Aviation. Firefly WH632 had only 120 hours on it and had been inhibited by the Royal Australian Navy. The Firefly, along with five crates of spare parts and one container holding a zero time Rolls-Royce Griffon engine, arrived in Halifax on July 24, 1978 aboard the container ship Columbus Virginia. After a lengthy layover at CAF Shearwater, the Firefly travelled by water to Thorold and to Hamilton by road arriving on August 22, 1979.
The Museum's Firefly under restoration.
The Museum's Firefly under restoration.
The Museum's Firefly under restoration.
The Museum's Firefly under restoration.
In April of 1990, the Museum's Firefly was transferred by truck to a professional restoration shop, Victoria Air Maintenance in Victoria, British Columbia, for completion.
The Museum's Firefly under restoration in Victoria.
The Museum's Firefly under restoration in Victoria.
The Museum's Firely under restoration in Victoria - painted but markings still to be applied.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142 with wings folding.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
Firefly VH142.
A formation of Royal Canadian Navy Fairey Firefly Mk. Vs (including VH142, BD-G) in 1951.
Original Firefly VH142 (BD-G) in 1950 about to be launched off the aircraft carrier, HMCS Magnificent.
Fireflies (including VH142, BD-G) fly over HMCS Micmac in 1951 at Halifax, Nova Scotia. HMCS Magnificent is in the distance.
Fairey Firefly Mk. V VH141 (BD-H) aboard HMCS Magnificent.
Later on, Firefly VH141 suffered a prang that hung it up in a Bofors gun position.
  • Status: On display
  • Airworthiness: Airworthy (flown regularly)
  • Type: Fighter
  • Built: 1951
  • Serial Number: RN WH632
  • Construction Number: F.8755
  • Civil Registration: C-GBDG
  • Current Markings: RCN VH142
  • Length: 37 ft
  • Wingspan: 41 ft
  • Power: 2,245 hp
  • Engine: 1 x Rolls-Royce Griffon 74
  • Maximum Speed: 345 mph
  • Service Ceiling: 29,200 ft
  • Range: 1,070 miles

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Aircraft Description

The Firefly was designed by Fairey Aviation, UK, in 1940 to meet a British Admiralty requirement for a carrier borne, fighter reconnaissance aircraft. The Firefly prototype first flew in December 1941 from Fairey’s Great West Aerodrome, (now Heathrow Airport). Successful flight trials were completed by the end of 1942 and the first production aircraft, Mk. Is were delivered to the Royal Navy in March 1943.

Fireflies went into squadron service in October 1943 and later saw action in July 1944 against the German battleship Tirpitz, in Norway, when flying from HMS Indefatigable. From January 1945 onwards, the main area of operations for the Firefly was the Far East. Flying from HMS Indefatigable and HMS Implacable, they fought against the Japanese in Sumatra, the Caroline Islands and in the waters surrounding Japan. Later, Fairey Fireflies served with the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy, during the Korean War.

A total of 64 Fairey Fireflies served with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), between 1946 and 1952. Based at Dartmouth, NS, they were flown from the aircraft carriers HMCS Warrior and HMCS Magnificent by No. 825 and 826 Squadrons. The Mk. V anti submarine version was ordered in 1949 to meet a NATO role for the RCN in anti submarine warfare. Firefly Mk. Vs operated in this role until late 1950, when they were replaced by Grumman Avengers.

Manufacture of the Fairey Firefly ceased in April 1956, after 1,702 aircraft had been produced. About 20 Fireflies survive, but the Museum's example is the only one in flying condition today.

The Museum's Firefly was built in 1951 and first served with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, at Ford, UK. Later, it was transferred to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in 1953. It was retired from the RAN in 1960 and ended up in a museum in New South Wales, Australia. The Museum purchased it from them in 1979. Although a Mk.VI, it has been restored in the colours and markings of a RCN No. 825 Squadron Firefly Mk. V operating from HMCS Magnificent in 1949-50.

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