The Museum's Fairey Firefly (Reeve Photography)

When the Fairey Firefly entered service in July 1943 it became the Royal Navy's main carrier-borne fighter reconnaissance aircraft. The Firefly's notable feats include the part it played in the attacks against the German battleship Tirpitz, and on Japanese oil refineries in Sumatra during January 1945. Fleet Air Arm Fireflies also saw action during the Korean War (1950-1953), operating from carriers against Communist ground targets.