A World War II aircraft, the Firefly had entered service in 1943. With an impressive service record (Fireflys had sunk the German battleship Tirpitz), the Firefly was kept in service after the war. The Firefly performed principally in the fighter-bomber role after the war, but was also flying as a carrier-borne reconnaissance & ASW aircraft.

The first post-war variant of the Firefly was the FR.Mk4 reconnaissance aircraft which flew on the 25th of May 1945. The FR.Mk4 featured clipped wings & a redesigned tail surface, & 160 were completed by early 1948. Some FR.Mk4s were also modified to TT.Mk4 standard for target towing duties. Next came the Firefly NF.Mk5 night fighter, FR.Mk5 reconnaissance aircraft & AS.Mk5 ASW aircraft. Around 300 AS.Mk5s were built between 1947 & 1950. Production was then switched to the three-seat Firefly AS.Mk6, of which 149 were built. The aircraft entered service in 1951 & equipped six front-line & six reserve squadrons. Production was then switched again, this time to the Firefly AS.Mk7. Only 36 were completed to AS.Mk7 standard, the remainder of the Mk.7 production being Firefly T.Mk7 trainers (160 completed). Production was terminated in March 1956 after the last Fireflys were completed, the Firefly U.Mk 8 target drones. Another 54 Mk5s were converted to the same standard, these being designated U.Mk9s. Production amounted to 1,702 aircraft.

The Firefly, apart from its service in World War II, also served in Korea & Malaya, & several Dutch FR.Mk1s were also active in the Dutch East Indies against rebel forces.

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