Fairey Firefly Mk. 1, RCN, on board HMCS Warrior
The Fairey Firefly was operated in the post-World War II by the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), serving from 1946 until its retirement in 1953. The Fairey Firefly was a British-designed, carrier-based aircraft developed during World War II to meet the Royal Navy’s need for a versatile reconnaissance and strike platform. Following the war, Canada sought to establish a capable naval aviation component. In 1946, the RCN acquired 64 Fireflies, which were based at CFB Shearwater in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. These aircraft were operated from the RCN’s aircraft carriers, HMCS Warrior and HMCS Magnificent.
The Firefly served in various roles, including anti-submarine warfare (ASW), reconnaissance, and strike missions. The primary squadrons operating the Firefly were:
No. 825 Squadron RCN: Operated the Firefly from 1945 until 1951, after which it was renumbered to 880 Squadron RCN.
No. 826 Squadron RCN: Operated the Firefly from 1946 to 1950, also transitioning to 880 Squadron RCN in 1951.
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