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Fairey Fireflys of the CWH

Posted by Mike Henniger on Mon Mar 31, 2003 07:13:52 PM

We all know that the CWH has owned two Fireflys over the years. I have been trying to dig up the histories of each airframes, and I would like to verify that I "have it right". With the two airframes it is possible that some info has been misrepresented in various sources, or maybe even I have made a mistake (it happens often).

Here is what I think I know about the first airframe...
Model: Fairey-General Aircraft TT Mk 6 Firefly
S/N: WD901 RAN
C/N: F.8724
C/R: C-FBDH
Owner: Canadian Warplane Heritage
History: AS Mk. 6 WD901 RAN TOS (1953/6), converted TT Mk. 6, SOS (1965), N7469 (circa 1968), to Canadian Warplane Heritage (1971/9), CF-BDH (circa 1971), C-FBDH, crashed into Lake Ontario (1977/9/2)

And here is what I think I know about CWH Firefly #2...
Model: Fairey-General Aircraft FF.46 Firefly
S/N: WH632 RAN
C/N: F.8755
C/R: C-GBDG
Owner: Canadian Warplane Heritage
Codes: "BG D", "G"
History: AS Mk. 6 (1951) WH632 RAN TOS (1953/6), SOS (1960/5/29), to Canadian Warplane Heritage (1978), restored in Hamilton Ontario and Victoria British Columbia (1978 to 1992), C-GBDG (1988), first post-restoration flight (1992/4), crashed on take-off for ferry flight from Victoria to Hamilton (1992/5/7), rebuilt, first post-restoration flight (1995/10/31), C-GBDG registered FF.46

So the question is do I have the general info right? Do the c/n's match the s/n's? Does the history of each airframe correct for the corresponding serial number?

Did either of these airframes see any Royal Navy service or where these shipped directly to Australia originally?

Thanks in advance.

Regards,

Mike

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