Warbird Information Exchange

In a state of mild boredom I was checkin' out the warbirdregistry, under Fairy Firefly...

Because I don't really know much about the type I was going to ask the WIX brain trust a pretty simple question, but one I didn't know the answer to. That was, "What was the purpose of the Firefly?" I went onto Wikipedia and came up with a decent answer. Apparently it was a Carrier born bomber/reconn. aircraft designed and test flown in 1941, but didn't see actual service until very late in the war.

I wonder if it was not thrust into combat sooner because of any flaws. Wikipedia didn't mention anything, but looking at it, it didn't seem like it was very well defended; or was it fast and nimble enough to not require rear guns, etc?

Anyways, the reason for this post is because there was a picture on Wikipedia of a Firefly on a stick...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:AUS_ ... G_7516.jpg

I was curious where it was and followed the google link and it turns out it's in Griffith, NSW, Australia. I figured that it would have been in a major city somewhere (and I don't mean to slag the residence of Griffith) but it just seems like such a tucked away place for a seemingly rare airplane. I'm glad she is in relatively good condition, at least from the picture it looks good.

Can one of our downunder friends tell me how it ended up there and who owns it? I get the feeling it's owned by a veterans group or "legion" there? I'm curious to learn about this gem. Don't worry, I don't want to buy it, I'm just interested in learning about it.

Cheers,

David

Hi dave,

The aircraft is located at the Griffith Returned Soldiers League Club, the RSL is Australia's peak serviceman organisation.

Firefly WB518 was placed on the pole in 1967 following service with the RAN, and remained there until the early 1990's when a deal was made to remove it, and substitute it with a rebuilt firefly using the damaged remains of WD828 which had previously operated as a warbird in Australia until damaged in a forced landing.

The damaged fuselage of WD828 along with other damaged or unserviceable parts were rebuilt and replaced onto the pole at Griffith while the main intact structure of WB518 and any airworthy components of WD828 became the basis of an airworthly restoration now flying in the USA with Captain Eddie.

To confuse things further, the rebuilt static WD828 is displayed at Griffith as "WB518".

WD828 was originally under restoration by the Moorabbin Air Museum and was later operated by Mike Wansey who also purchased and operated a RAAF marked PBY in Australia in the early 1980s' which was donated to the CAF (The derelict one I purchased at auction in recent years and stored at the Gary Austin Aviation Museum)









Australia has 4 other Firefly's preserved and displayed indoors including the one at Moorabbin WD827 originally purchased as spares ship for the airworthy restoration of WD828, http://aarg.com.au/Firefly.htm



While another is at the Camden Aviation Museum and two are held at the Australian Fleet Air Arm Museum, with one under restoration to fly.

I am sure eventually WD828 will somehow "come in from the cold" and be replaced by a fibre-glass replica of some type, but I am not sure it will ever be anything more than a static display given its previous damage.

Regards

Mark Pilkington

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20th Century - The Age of Manned Flight
"from Wrights to Armstrong in 66 years -WOW!"

Many a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to restore old aircraft!

Very interesting "Fairey story" about the one on the pole.

Thanks!

Robbie

Yes, but at least they didn't take a show of hands on who was in favor of turning them all into FOSTERS cans or VEGIMITE lids

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Hey Mark,

Thanks for filling me in on the Fairy Tale. Quite a bit to get my head wrapped around, but I think I got it.

It's nice to see so many in Australia. They are a beautiful airplane in an awkward kind of way.

Cheers,

David

There's a few ex-Royal Australian Navy examples elsewhere, too - like the CWH's airworthy example, the sadly lost Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm example in the UK, and as Mark P said, the airworthy example in the US with Capt'n Eddie. Canada has a very similar history to Australia in your Navy use of the type.

There's rebuild examples that can be picked up for reasonable money, too.

BTW, being a Pommie machine, it's a classics derived aeroplane.

_________________
James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com