THE CAMDEN MUSEUM
OF AVIATION
OF AVIATION
Firefly T.T Mk6 VX388Built by Fairey Aviation Company, England as a Mk 5 then converted to a AS Mk 6; VX388 was delivered to the RAN via HMAS Sydney in May 1949. The aircraft operated with the 20th CAG, 816 Squadron on HMAS Sydney. She flew on the 15th June 1953 in the Spithead Review fly-past as part of the coronation celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. As well, she operated with 851 Squadron on HMAS Vengeance. VX388 was converted to TT Mk 6 and operated out of Avalon Airfield, Victoria, with the Fleet Air Arm on target towing and radar tracking duties in support of the RAN fleet. Sold by the RAN in 1966 she was acquired by the Museum. The prototype Firefly flew in 1942 and operated as a carrier based fighter and reconnaissance aircraft with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, seeing service in the European and Pacific regions. Mk 5 aircraft flew combat air patrols over the allied fleet in Korean waters, and 817 Squadron, RAN also operated Mk 5 Fireflies from HMAS Sydney during the Korean conflict. The Mk 6 was designed as an anti-submarine attack aircraft with improved submarine detection and attack equipment including sonobuoys, depth charges, rockets, bombs and mines, with the aircraft serving with the Fleet Air Arm until being gradually replaced with Fairey Gannets after 1955. |
 VX388 at the Museum  VX388 with air driven target winch |
|||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||