Fairey Firefly Mk I, FAA Squadron 1771, DK-438, No. 277 “Lucy Quipment,” HMS Implacable, Off Japan July 1945

In July 1945, the Fireflies of 1771 Sqdn., based on HMS Implacable as part of the British Pacific Fleet, became the first Fleet Air Arm aircraft to fly over mainland Japan. The Fireflies rocketed airfields at Matsushima, Sendai, Masuda and Tokyo over a two day period and sought targets of opportunity along the coast. Afterwards they were decorated with a yellow map of Japan on the starboard fuselage near the pilot's cockpit. (See below Squadron personnel photo center left).

No. 277 with rockets