Fairey Firefly Memorial to Airmen, Banna Ave, Griffith, NSW | Photographs: | None | | List: | Register of the National Estate | | Class: | Historic | | Legal Status: | Indicative Place | | Place ID: | 100954 | | Place File No: | 1/06/334/0002 | | Statement of Significance: Not Available | | Official Values: Not Available | | Description: | History:
The Fairey Firefly was designed and built in Britain during World War Two as an aircraft carrier borne fighter-reconnaissance aircraft and was perhaps the most successful of British wartime shipboard aeroplanes.
The first Firefly flew on 22 December 1941 and after entering service with the Royal Navy in July 1944 was to see action in every operational theatre. Its action varied from attacks on the Tirpitz in Norwegian waters to sorties against the Japanese in Sumatra and it had the distinction of being the first British aircraft to fly over Tokyo during World War Two.
Fairey Firefly aircraft were procured by the Royal Australian Navy in June, 1949, for use on HMAS Sydney, and these aircraft operated in Korea for four months from October, 1951 and again in late 1953 until the Armistice.
The Fairey Firefly Memorial to Airmen was donated by citizens of Griffith with a major part of funds provided by the Wade Shire Council. The plane was a generous acquisition, between friends, the Former Federal Government Minister, David Fairbairn and Griffith businessman, Charles Beltrame. Mr Beltrame and a small committee of returned RAAF servicemen and aeroplane enthusiasts in Griffith were supportive of the concept of an aeroplane monument for the town. The Fairey Firefly at Bankstown was chosen from among the last few planes procured for the Australian Navy, from about 150 original units. It was purchased for 200 pounds at a time when the remainder of the demothed Firefly`s were sold for 20,000 pounds each.
Mr Beltrame initiated plans in Griffith to receive the aircraft, which was floated on a truck over 400 miles from Sydney. The logistics of such an operation soon dawned heavily upon everyone connected with the Fairey Firefly project. It would become quite a challenge as the plane weighed 9,674 lbs, was 37ft 11in long, with wing span 41ft and wing area 330 square feet. This idea was scrapped when it was realised that it would have been nearly impossible to pass over the small bridges and country lanes without partial demolition. The Committee were in favour of an alternative plan of an historic flight home and decided to enlist the deployment of the RAAF and RAN to get the plane airworthy.
The biggest hurdle so it turned out, was not the preparation of the Firefly for its one flight, but finding a skilled pilot who could safely guide the plane at a designated, authorised height from Sydney to Griffith. The flight also had to be made without full instrumentation, with wheels that normally retracted being set in a fixed landing position. Mr Beltrame located a former Fleet Air Arm Lockheed test pilot who identified with the Riverina who readily agreed to take the controls of the Firefly to Griffith, however, illness delayed arrival of the plane until Saturday March 18, 1967. A large crowd gathered at the Griffith Aerodrome for the arrival of the Fairey Firefly, which thrilled onlookers with a victory roll before landing.
Preceding the arrival of the plane on 14 February 1967 the then Wade Shire President, N W P Farrell approved advertisements in the Riverina Advocate of 17, 22 and 29 and The Area News of 17, 21 and 24 February. Councillor Farrell convened a meeting to be held in the Council Chambers 27 February, 1967 to form the Fairey Firefly Committee saying: `...an Interim Committee has been arranged for the purchase of the aircraft which is to be a Memorial to Airmen of World War Two`. A Report of the Public Meeting held in the Council Chambers, Griffith, on Monday, 27 February 1967. Purpose of Meeting: The Public Meeting was convened for the purpose of forming a Committee to raise finance to purchase a Fairey Firefly Aircraft, arrange for its transport from Sydney to Griffith, and to have it suitably mounted on a site yet to be determined. An Interim Committee has already arranged for the purchase of the Firefly which is to be a Memorial to Airmen of World War II.
An official brochure of the Griffith Fairey Firefly Memorial Appeal showed an aircraft in flight and an impression of how the Firefly Memorial would look when erected in Griffith. Comments of note on the front page of the brochure: `...Due to the varied and splendid service of the Fairey Firefly it is felt that it is a fitting monument to men of this district who served in the Air Forces during these and other wars...` and `...when erected in the ex Servicemen`s parking area at Griffith as an enduring memorial to all men from this district who served their country and the cause of freedom two World Wars and later conflicts...`.
During 1967 to 1968 the Firefly was housed in the engineering workshops of Collier and Miller, Griffith where it was prepared for display. The power plant, one 2,245hp Rolls Royce Griffon 12 cylinder v liquid cooled, engine was removed and for some time used for training purposes by automotive apprentices at the Griffith Technical College. After some time and with the agreement of the Firefly Committee, the engine was exchanged for a similar type of engine that was not in good condition. The committee was paid 300 pounds to agree to the exchange. The original engine was used to power a speed boat. The exchange engine was on exhibition at Pioneer Park. Some time later
Mr Beltrame noticed that it was missing and the response to his enquiries was that it had been sold to a purchaser in Queensland. The undercarriage and instrument panels were also removed to lighten the weight. Volunteers stripped paintwork and prepared the aircraft for repainting. Fabric covering rudder and elevators of the fighter bomber was removed and replaced with metal sheeting.
The memorial was constructed in November 1968 and unveiled on 26 April 1969. | | History: Not Available | | Condition and Integrity: | The Fairley Firefly Memorial to Airmen is displayed mounted on a cement pedestal within a grassed area at the junction of Banna and Jondaryan Avenues. The aircraft is not in original condition, as parts have been removed to lighten the weight. At some stages there has been controversy over the sale of some of its parts, the funds from these sales being used for its renovation and upkeep.
At some time in 1970 refurbishment was carried out by volunteers from the Moorabbin Air Museum in Melbourne, who were allowed to take airworthy items off the aircraft for their own Firefly aircraft. In 1990 the council also agreed to allow part of the undercarriage of the aircraft to be swapped with a replica, on the condition that the plane was refurbished. This refurbishment was carried out by a private collector from Sydney. | | Location: | | Banna Avenue, corner Jondaryan Avenue, Griffith. | | Bibliography: Not Available |
Report Produced: Tue Jan 30 10:57:56 2007 |
