Captain Eddie Kurdziel's Fairey Firefly AS Mk.6 "WB518"

Captain Eddie Kurdziel is the owner and operator of this magnificent Fairey Firefly AS Mk.6, which is located at Gillespie Field, San Diego, CA and is the only Firefly based in the United States, and one of only 2 airworthy Fairey Fireflies in the world.

The Fairey Aviation Company in England flew the first prototype on 22 December, 1941 and the aircraft went into production on 26 August, 1942. The first production aircraft was delivered from Fairey’s Great Western Aerodrome (now London Heathrow International Airport) to RNAS Yeovilton on 4 March, 1943 where the first operational squadron, 1770, was formed in October, 1943. Fairey Aviation built 1,702 Fireflies as a carrier-based naval fighter and reconnaissance airplane, later used in anti-submarine warfare, with a crew of pilot and observer. The Firefly was powered by a 2,250hp Rolls-Royce Griffin 74 engine and its wing used Youngman flaps both in slow flight and cruise. Built into the leading edge of the wing were wing root radiators. The Firefly carried four 20mm guns mounted in the wings and sixteen 60lb rockets or two 1,000 lb bombs, two drop tanks or ASR equipment.

The Firefly was regarded as a versatile aircraft, first seeing action in 1944 in Germany and took part in the attacks against the German battleship Tirpitz. In June 1945 Fireflies of 1771 Squadron, operating from HMS Implacable, took part in attacks in the Carolinas, while in July, 1772 squadron aircraft, from HMS Indefatigable, were flying strikes against shipping and ground targets in the Japanese home islands, becoming the first British aircraft to fly over the Japanese mainland. On 24 July, 1945 aircraft from 1772 Squadron became the first British aircraft to fly over Tokyo.

The type again saw action in the Korean War (1950-1953) and over Malaya, this timed with the much modified Firefly Mk.4 with its clipped wings, which had first flown in May 1945. During the Korean War, the Royal Australian Navy Fireflies saw operational service over Korea when based on HMAS Sydney. The aircraft continued service in Korea and other conflicts into the early 1970s.

Postwar, the Firefly was used by the Naval Air arms of Australia, Canada, and Holland. The Royal Canadian Navy employed 65 Fireflies of the Mk AS-5 variety on board its own aircraft carriers between 1946 and 1954, for use in the anti-submarine role. The last of the 1702 built was delivered in 1956 and the Firefly ended its naval career as a target drone.

Captain Eddie’s Firefly, WB518, was rescued in 1991 when it was removed from a pole it had been mounted on in New South Wales, Australia, since 1967. The beautiful restoration, primarily done by Tim Fries of Q.G. Aviation in Ft. Collins, Colorado, took eight years and more than 40,000 working hours. WB518 was one of the first 10 Mark 6s built with the fuselage of the earlier Mark 5. The aircraft was originally delivered to 817 Squadron who then exchanged their aircraft for those of 816 Squadron for duty in Korea. WB518 has been painted to represent WB377, which was loaned to 817 Squadron aboard HMAS Sydney by the Royal Navy for duty in Korea.

The attention to detail and uniqueness of this treasure earned recognition at Oshkosh 2002, as Grand Champion Warbird – post World War II. Captain Eddie’s Firefly received both the Rolls-Royce Aviation Heritage Trophy and the National Aviation Hall of Fame’s People’s Choice Award at the National Aviation Heritage Invitational held at the 2002 Reno National Championship Air Races.

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