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The Fairey Firefly is a
Second World War era carrier-borne fighter aircraft and anti-submarine
aircraft that was principally operated by the Fleet Air Arm. It was
developed and built by the British aircraft manufacturer Fairey Aviation
Company.
Development of the Firefly can be traced back to pair of specifications
issued by the British Air Ministry in 1938, calling for new naval
fighter designs. Designed to the contemporary FAA concept of a two-seat
fleet reconnaissance/fighter, the pilot and observer were positioned at
separate stations. In flight, the Firefly was superior in terms of both
performance and firepower to its predecessor, the Fairey Fulmar. Due to
a protracted development, the type only entered operational service
towards the end of the conflict, at which point it was no longer
competitive as a fighter. The limitations of a single engine in a
relatively heavy airframe reduced its performance, but the Firefly
proved to be a fairly sturdy, long-ranged, and docile aircraft during
carrier operations. |
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Die Fairey Firefly ist ein
trägergestütztes Kampfflugzeug und U-Boot-Abwehrflugzeug aus der Zeit des
Zweiten Weltkriegs, das hauptsächlich von der Fleet Air Arm betrieben wurde.
Es wurde vom britischen Flugzeughersteller Fairey Aviation Com-pany
entwickelt und gebaut.
Die Entwicklung des Firefly lässt sich auf zwei Spezifikationen
zurückführen, die 1938 vom briti-schen Luftfahrtministerium herausgegeben
wurden und neue Entwürfe für Marinejäger forderten. Pilot und Beobachter
wurden nach dem zeitgenös-sischen FAA-Konzept eines zweisitzigen
Flotten-aufklärers / -jägers an separaten Stationen posi-tioniert. Im Flug
war der Firefly seinem Vorgänger, dem Fairey Fulmar, sowohl in Bezug auf
Leistung als auch Feuerkraft überlegen. Aufgrund einer langwierigen
Entwicklung wurde der Typ erst gegen Ende des Konflikts in den Dienst
gestellt und war zu diesem Zeitpunkt als Jagdflugzeug nicht mehr
konkurrenzfähig. Die Einschränkungen eines einzelnen Triebwerks in einer
relativ schweren Flug-zeugzelle reduzierten seine Leistung, aber der Firefly
erwies sich während des Trägerbetriebs als ziemlich robustes, weitreichendes
und fügsames Flugzeug. |
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30 Mark F.1 fighter
aircraft obtained from Royal Navy, delivered 18 January 1946 to 20 June 1946.
Serialled 6-1 to 6-30 (some Later with 11 or 16 prefixes). Of these, 15
aircraft to NEI. Used by 860 Sqn in NEI, 861 Sqn in UK and 1 Sqn in Dutch Antilles.
Last withdrawn 8 June 1954. 11- serials from 25 Aug 1947 in Netherlands,
and 26 Jan 1949 in NEI. 16- serials from 11 Jan 1950.
7 of above converted to T.1 advanced and T.2 weapons trainer versions by
Aviolanda 9 February 1948-17 July 1952. Serials 12-11 to 12-14 (T.1) and
12-15 to 12-17 (T.2). Served with 1 and 5 sqns. Last withdrawn 12 March
1960. (Note: 12-11 and 12-12 (12-14?), Later 21-11 and 21-12 (21-14?)
delivered from Royal Navy as T.2 versions already).
40 Mark FR.4 delivered new 18 April 1947 to 3
October 1947 to 1, 2, 4, 5 and 7 sqns. Last 6 withdrawn 15 December1961,
after use as target tugs. Serials 6-31 to 6-70 (Later 11- or 16- ). 16-
serials from 1950 and xxx serials in 1959.
Components from 16-39 to 16-87, 16-43 to 16-86, 16-58 to 16-82.
14 Mark NF.V night fighter version delivered new 11 March to 26 April
1949 to 2, 4, 5 and 7 sqns, serials 11-71 to 11-84 (Later 16- ). Last
withdrawn 15 December 1961, after use as advanced trainer. 16- serials
from 1950, xxx serials from 1959.
4 ex-RCN examples
delivered 7 November 1952. 2 FR.Mk.IV and 2 FR.Mk.V. Serials 16-86 to
16-89. Last withdrawn 21 September 1957. |
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Serial, Fairey Firefly |
Typ |
Buzz |
s/n |
Delivered |
Withdrawn |
Remarks |
T.2 |
6-1 |
PP458 |
18. Jan. 1946 |
22. Sep. 1959 |
Later 12-11 and 21-11 |
F.1 |
6-2 |
PP472 |
18. Jan. 1946 |
20. Aug. 1946 |
Crashed in sea |
F-1 |
6-3 |
PP473 |
18. Jan. 1946 |
21. Jun. 1952 |
Later 11-3, 16-3 |
F.1 / T.1 |
6-4 |
PP489 |
18. Jan. 1946 |
17. Jan. 1957 |
Later 11-4, 12-14 and 21-14 |
F.1 / T.2 |
6-5 |
PP487 |
18. Jan. 1946 |
13. Sep. 1957 |
Later 11-5, 12-15 and 21-15 |
F.1 |
6-6 |
PP484 |
18. Jan. 1946 |
14. Oct. 1952 |
Later 11-6, 16-6 |
F-1 |
6-7 |
PP486 |
13. Feb. 1946 |
2. Nov 1954 |
Later 11-7, 16-7 |
F.1 / T.1 |
6-8 |
PP492 |
13. Feb. 1946 |
8. Nov. 1948 |
Later 12-13, 21-13, Cashed
into North Sea |
F-1 |
6-9 |
PP493 |
13. Feb. 1946 |
13. Feb. 1946 |
Crashed |
F.1 |
6-10 |
PP474 |
13. Feb. 1946 |
15. Apr. 1946 |
Crashed at Fearn |
F-1 |
6-11 |
PP527 |
13. Feb. 1946 |
21. May 1953 |
Later 11-11, 16-11 |
F.1 / T.1 |
6-12 |
PP497 |
13. Feb. 1946 |
12. Mar. 1960 |
Later 12-12, 21-12 |
F-1 |
6-13 |
PP528 |
22. Feb. 1946 |
12. Oct. 1946 |
Crashed |
F.1 |
6-14 |
PP494 |
22. Feb. 1946 |
25. Jan. 1950 |
Later 11-14, Crashed at Valkenburg |
F-1 |
6-15 |
PP526 |
22. Feb. 1946 |
2. Dec. 1946 |
Crashed at Apeldoorn |
F.1 |
6-16 |
PP583 |
17. May 1946 |
8. Jun. 1954 |
Later 11-16, 16-16 |
F-1 |
6-17 |
PP590 |
17. May 1946 |
28. Apr. 1954 |
Later 11-17, 16-17 |
F.1 |
6-18 |
PP591 |
17. May 1946 |
11. Feb. 1952 |
Later 11-18, 16-18 |
F-1 |
6-19 |
PP592 |
17. May 1946 |
8. Jun. 1954 |
Later 11-19, 16-19 |
F.1 |
6-20 |
PP593 |
22. May 1946 |
8. Jun. 1954 |
Later 11-20, 16-20 |
F-1 |
6-21 |
PP601 |
18. Jun. 1946 |
8. Jun. 1954 |
Later 11-21, 16-21 |
F.1 |
6-22 |
PP602 |
18. Jun. 1946 |
21. Jul. 1947 |
Crashed |
F-1 / T.2 |
6-23 |
PP603 |
18. Jun. 1946 |
21. Dec. 1956 |
Later 11-23, 21-16 |
F.1 |
6-24 |
PP606 |
18. Jun. 1946 |
14. May 1957 |
Later 11-24, 16-24 |
F-1 |
6-25 |
PP607 |
20. Jun. 1946 |
28. Apr. 1954 |
Later 11-25, 16-25 |
F.1 |
6-26 |
PP614 |
20. Jun. 1946 |
28. Apr. 1954 |
Later 11-26, 16-26 |
F-1 |
6-27 |
PP615 |
20. Jun. 1946 |
4. Aug. 1947 |
Crashed |
F.1 |
6-28 |
PP616 |
20. Jun. 1946 |
8. Jun. 1954 |
Later 11-28, 16-28 |
F.1 / T.2 |
6-29 |
PP619 |
20. Jun. 1946 |
12. Mar. 1960 |
Later 11-29, 21-17, 004 |
F-1 |
6-30 |
PP623 |
20. Jun. 1946 |
14. Oct.
1952 |
Later 11-30, 16-30 |
FR.4 |
6-31 |
F.8227 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
1. Dec.
1957 |
Later 11-31, 16-31 |
FR.4 |
6-32 |
F.8228 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
5. Sep. 1953 |
Later 11-32, 16-32 |
FR.4 |
6-33 |
F.8229 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
15. Dec. 1961 |
Later 11-33, 16-33, 005 |
FR.4 |
6-34 |
F.8230 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
23. May. 1957 |
Later 11-32, 16-34 |
FR.4 |
6-35 |
F.8231 |
23. Apr. 1947 |
15. Nov. 1949 |
Later 11-35, Cashed in sea |
FR.4 |
6-36 |
F.8232 |
24. Apr. 1947 |
1. Jul. 1957 |
Later 11-36, 16-36 |
FR.4 |
6-37 |
F.8233 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
1. Mar.
1957 |
Later 11-37, 16-37 |
FR.4 |
6-38 |
F.8234 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
9. Dec. 1956 |
Later 11-38, 16-38 |
FR.4 |
6-39 |
F.8235 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
10. Mar. 1953 |
Later 11-39, 16-39 |
FR.4 |
6-40 |
F.8236 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
1. Mar. 1959 |
Later 11-40, 16-40 |
FR.4 |
6-41 |
F.8237 |
24. Apr. 1947 |
22. Jun. 1954 |
Later 11-41, 16-41 |
FR.4 |
6-42 |
F.8238 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
16. Sep. 1958 |
Later 11-42, 16-42 |
FR.4 |
6-43 |
F.8239 |
23. Apr. 1947 |
8. Apr. 1953 |
Later 11-43, 16-43 |
FR.4 |
6-44 |
F.8240 |
24. Apr. 1947 |
1. Mar. 1959 |
Later 11-44, 16-44 |
FR.4 |
6-45 |
F.8241 |
18. Apr. 1947 |
10. Jul. 1951 |
Later 11-45, 16-46 Crashed in sea |
FR.4 |
6-46 |
F.8242 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
6. Feb. 1959 |
Later 11-46, 16-46 |
FR.4 |
6-47 |
F.8243 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
6. Dec.
1960
|
Later 11-47, 16-47, 006 |
FR.4 |
6-48 |
F.8244 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
20. Nov.
1961 |
Later 11-48, 16-48, 007 |
FR.4 |
6-49 |
F.8245 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
17. Jul.
1961 |
Later 11-49, 16-49, 008 |
FR.4 |
6-50 |
F.8246 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
9. Feb. 1950 |
Later 11-50, Cashed in sea |
FR.4 |
6-51 |
F.8247 |
22. Aug 1947 |
10. Nov. 1954 |
Later 11-51, 16-51 |
FR.4 |
6-52 |
F.8248 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
28. Apr. 1958 |
Later 11-52, 16-52 |
FR.4 |
6-53 |
F.8249 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
Mar. 1958
|
Later 11-53, 16-53 |
FR.4 |
6-54 |
F.8250 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
7. Jun. 1955
|
Later 11-54, 16-54 |
FR.4 |
6-55 |
F.8251 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
24. Feb. 1959 |
Later 11-55, 16-55 |
FR.4 |
6-56 |
F.8252 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
24. Aug. 1948 |
Later 11-56, Crashed near Valkenburg |
FR.4 |
6-57 |
F.8253 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
15. Dec. 1961 |
Later 11-57, 16-57, 009 |
FR.4 |
6-58 |
F.8254 |
22. Aug. 1947 |
14. Jan. 1954 |
Later 11-58, 16-58, Casched in sea |
FR.4 |
6-59 |
F.8255 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
26. Oct. 1961
|
Later 11-59, 16-59, 010 |
FR.4 |
6-60 |
F.8256 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
25. May 1959 |
Later 11-60, 16-60 |
FR.4 |
6-61 |
F.8257 |
26. Aug. 1947 |
8. Sep. 1953 |
Later 11-61, 16-61 |
FR.4 |
6-62 |
F.8258 |
26. Aug. 1947 |
30. Mar. 1957 |
Later 11-62, 16-62 |
FR.4 |
6-63 |
F.8259 |
26. Aug. 1947 |
9. Jun. 1949
|
Later 11-63, Crashed at Valkenburg |
FR.4 |
6-64 |
F.8260 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
1. Jun. 1957 |
Later 11-64, 16-64 |
FR.4 |
6-65 |
F.8261 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
1. Jul. 1957
|
Later 11-65, 16-65 |
FR.4 |
6-66 |
F.8262 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
2. Jan. 1959
|
Later 11-66, 16-66 |
FR.4 |
6-67 |
F.8263 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
21. Sep. 1952 |
Later 11-67, 16-67, Crashed |
FR.4 |
6-68 |
F.8264 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
16. Jan. 1959 |
Later 11-68, 16-68, Carshed in the sea |
FR.4 |
6-69 |
F.8265 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
5. Jul. 1949 |
Later 11-69, Crashed |
FR.4 |
6-70 |
F.8266 |
2. Oct. 1947 |
22. Apr. 1953 |
Later 11-70, 16-70, Carshed in the sea
|
NF.5 |
11-71 |
F.8389 |
11. Mar. 1949 |
16. Feb. 1954 |
Later 16-71 |
NF.5 |
11-72 |
F.8390 |
26. Apr. 1949 |
11. May 1961 |
Later 16-72, 011 |
NF.5 |
11-73 |
F.8391 |
14. Mar. 1949 |
11. Sep. 1961 |
Later 16-73, 012 |
NF.5 |
11-74 |
F.8392 |
11. Mar. 1949 |
21. Sep. 1961 |
Later 16-74, 013 |
NF.5 |
11-75 |
F.8393 |
11. Mar. 1949 |
15. Dec. 1961 |
Later 16-75, 014 |
NF.5 |
11-76 |
F.8394 |
14. Mar. 1949 |
30. Aug. 1950
|
Crashed in the sea near Kijkduin |
NF.5 |
11-77 |
F.8395 |
14. Mar. 1949 |
13. Jan 1954
|
Later 16-77, Forced landing |
NF.5 |
11-78 |
F.8396 |
11. Mar. 1949 |
26. Sep. 1950 |
Crashed at Valkenburg |
NF.5 |
11-79 |
F.8397 |
14. Mar. 1949 |
15. Dec. 1961 |
Later 16-79, 015 |
NF.5 |
11-80 |
F.8398 |
26. Apr. 1949 |
1. Jun. 1950 |
Crashed |
NF.5 |
11-81 |
F.8399 |
26. Apr. 1949 |
12. May 1950 |
Crashed at Haarlem |
NF.5 |
11-82 |
F.8400 |
26. Apr. 1949 |
26. Oct. 1961 |
Later 16-82, 016 |
NF.5 |
11-83 |
F.8401 |
26. Apr. 1949 |
28. Mar. 1961 |
Later 16-83, 017 |
NF.5 |
11-84 |
F.8402 |
26. Apr. 1949 |
1. Jun. 1950 |
Crashed |
FR.4 |
16-86 |
F.8038 |
7. Nov. 1952 |
1. Jun. 1957 |
- |
FR.4 |
16-87 |
F.8040 |
7. Nov. 1952 |
21. Sep. 1957 |
- |
FR.5 |
16-88 |
F.8430 |
7. Nov. 1952 |
2. Jun. 1956 |
- |
FR.5 |
16-89 |
F.8431 |
7. Nov. 1952 |
2. Jun. 1956
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Last update
11. January 2013 |
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