The ‘Fairey Firefly’ sounds like a wussy name for a ground attack and patrol aircraft, but it’s all part of the Fairey Aviation company’s tradition of decidedly unusual aircraft names such as the Swordfish and Gannet (a bird who eats fish: go figure). Actually there was an earlier Firefly biplane, so it makes more sense as the revival of a previously used name. And you have to admit, it’s easier to remember than yet another collection of letters and numbers.

The second Firefly was a powerful carrier-based close support fighter-bomber with folding wings for deck storage, put into service around 1942. For power it used the bigger brother to the Rolls Royce Merlin, the V12 Griffon. It may seem a bit odd to use a liquid cooled airplane in ground attack roles, but it was the best available engine in Britain at the time with over 1700 reliable hp on tap when first constructed, later uprated to over 2200 hp when equipped with direct fuel injection. (The American Corsair came into service about the same time with a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine, and the Royal Navy did use them as well.) The unusual spotting features are the large two-man cockpit and the radiators in the wing roots. The nose looks similar to a later Spitfire and it’s sometimes mistaken for a SeaFire or a Sea Fury.

It served in all British theaters during WW2, primarily in anti-submarine and shipping duty, but was also used for long-range reconnaissance and for fighter cover. Over the years it was outfitted with radar and more modern under wing weapons, and flew combat missions in Korea. In carrier duty the jet powered Fairey Gannet replaced it in the mid 1950’s, but not before 1700 were produced. They served with the Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and Royal Navy as well as in smaller numbers in Thailand, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

Survivors are estimated at about 10 airframes, with 3 or 4 in flyable status, one in Canada. Therefore it’s unusual and delightful to see one on the American airshow circuit. Eddie Kurdziel purchased and restored the previously pylon mounted gate guardian “WB518” over a period of 10 years. It was disassembled when he got it. He bought it out of Australia and shipped the bits to Colorado. Eddie, a former Navy pilot and current airline captain, spent years simply cataloging the parts and scouring the earth for the bits he needed. He chose to do a first class restoration, and the detail on every component is done to a very high standard.

The paint scheme is late WW2, with Normandy black and white ‘invasion stripes’: these were put on all Allied planes just prior to the invasion to prevent them from being shot at by friendly fire. If it didn’t have the stripes, shoot it down! The colors, markings, and even the gloss of the finish are accurately reproduced. It’s partly the details that make this airplane so interesting. Along with the rocket launching rails, rearview mirror, and drop tanks, it also has cockpit features such as the original flare guns, compass, and the all-important ‘relief tube’. It’s as accurate as it can be, and it didn’t come that way. It’s a remarkable, award winning restoration of a plane that’s rare in the countries in which it served. Even the bark of the Rolls Royce Griffon 74 engine is infrequently heard in the US.

‘Cap’t Eddie maintains a website for WB518, where fans can check on maintenance and the airshow schedule: visit faireyfirefly.com. It’s seen here as it appeared just after restoration at the Chino Air Show in California, in an air to air shot, where it is a rare sight indeed! This angle shows the drop tanks, rockets, rearview mirror over the windscreen, and if you look closely you’ll see the arresting hook for carrier operations.

It is currently flyable, so keep an eye out for it! Now you’ll never mistake it for anything else.

Fairy Firefly Shirts:

Fairy Firefly t-shirts are available printed on white Haynes heavyweight T-shirts in sizes medium through XXL.   We can do production runs for special events, clubs, or teams.   Allow 3-5 days from date of order for sizes and images in stock.  Custom images may be done on a special order, and an artwork fee may apply.

Fairy Firefly T-shirts:  $17 each

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Fairy Firefly Mugs:

The Fairy Firefly coffee mugs are 3" x 3.75", made of high gloss ceramic.  The image is printed directly to the mug and is dishwasher safe.  No decals used.

Fairy Firefly coffee cups:  $10 each

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