OS2U Kingfisher's, J2F Duck's, SOC Seagull's ...

[Mark Allen M]

Per request, and happy to do it, as this airplane is truely a great one and one that I'm sure many of us would like to see in the air today. Sources, SDA&SM, National Museum of Naval aviation.


1-OS2U-2 Kingfisher (BuNo 2193) assigned to Scouting Squadron (VS) 2, First Naval District based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 20 March 1941


2-OS2U-2 Kingfisher (BuNo 2193) assigned to Scouting Squadron (VS) 2, First Naval District based at (NAS) Quonset Point, Rhode Island, 20 March 1941-1


3-XOS2U-1 Kingfisher seaplane on the ground.


4b-OS2U Kingfisher float plane on shore.


4c-Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, during 1941-1


4d-OS2U-2 Kingfisher parked on ramp.


5-OS2U-1 sits on the catapult on board USS Pasadena (CL 65).


6-An OS2U Kingfisher seaplane on the beach at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola awaiting the crew. The long ramp assists the gunner in getting aboard.


7-Pilots ready to board their OS2U Kingfisher float planes.


8a-OS2U Kingfisher taxiing to a ramp at Kiska in the Aleutian Islands.


8b-View of the stern of USS Missouri (BB 63) showing two of the ships OS2U Kingfisher observation aircraft position on catapults


9-an OS2U-3 Kingfisher of Cruiser Scouting Squadron One (VCS-1) catapults off USS Detroit (CL-8) during operations in the Aleutians-1


10-OS2U-3 Kingfisher float plane on catapult launch.


11-an OS2U-3 Kingfisher of Cruiser Scouting Squadron One (VCS-1) catapults off USS Detroit (CL-8) during operations in the Aleutians


14-An OS2U Kingfisher seaplane taxiing.


14b-OS2U Kingfisher float plane taxis in the harbor at Kiska in the Aleutians.


14c-OS2U-3 piloted by W.B. Cornell with ARM2c J.A. Adams in the rear seat launches on patrol flight from NAS Squantum, Massachusetts.


14d-An OS2U Kingfisher takes off after its pilot completed a check of moored boats that might be carrying supplies for German U-boats.


14e-View of flight operations of OS2U Kingfishers in the Aleutians.


15-An OS2U Kingfisher pictured just before landing on the water.


16-An OS2U Kingfisher flown by Lieutenant J. Doherty and Aviation Radioman Sutherland pictured in flight.


16b-OS2U-3 Kingfisher of VO-6 in flight.


16c-An OS2U-3 Kingfisher seaplane spots the accuracy of ship's guns as Marines landing craft head for the beaches at Anguar.


17-Vought OS2U-2 Kingfisher in flight 1942


18-OS2U Kingfisher piloted by Ensign Bruce Duck McGeorge on patrol over Halavo Beach, Florida Island in the Solomon Islands.


19-OS2U-3 Kingfisher float plane in flight.


20-An OS2U Kingfisher seaplane in flight.


21-Vought OS2U Kingfisher 107 Sqn RAAF in flight out of RAAF Base Rathmines in New South Wales 1944


23-Four OS2U Kingfisher float planes fly in formation.


27 Oct 1943 Above Jacksonville Florida Vought OS2U Kingfishers over Saint Johns River


24-Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas, during 1941.


25-OS2U Kingfisher with rescued pilot Lt. JG George Blair in the rear seat.rescued after his F6F Hellcat was shot down over Truk Atoll in 1944.



26-Sailors on board USS Missouri (BB 63) wield a long fender pole to prevent the wings of one of the ship's embarked OS2U Kingfishers


27-The pilot os an OS2U-3 stands on the wing ready to hook onto a crane that will pull the aircraft out of the water.


28-1948 WYATT EARP's RAAF Kingfisher first flight on Antarctic voyage


LIFE image of OS2U's in unknown area.


29-OS2U Kingfishers tied up at finger floats at Port Althorp, Alaska.

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Sun Nov 18, 2012 1:52 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Cherrybomber13]

This is the way a thread VOUGHT to Look. Thanks for posting Mark!

[The Inspector]

Love the P2Y on the mooring bouy in the beach shot of #51

[Pogo]

Wonderful, Mark! I always enjoy your "photo essays" even if I don't pipe up and say so.

The Kingfisher is one of the airplanes that fascinated me as a little kid, and helped cause me to become an airport bum and warbird nut for life. I can recall seeing a few pictures of them loaded to the gills with what seemed like a dozen or so shipwrecked sailors, the A/C being hopelessly overloaded and obviously incapable of flight, where the pilot taxied for god-knows-how-far in open ocean to "deliver them from evil", which only caused me to become more fascinated than ever with the type. How I'd love to see some of those pix again. Oh, Professor Google..........


http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=6137


http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/t ... 13533.html

These were the only two I could find in short order, any others? What a splendid airplane, and what awesome crews!

[Mark Allen M]

Also per request ... Grumman J2F Ducks and Curtiss SOC Seagulls


2a-A Grumman J2F-2 Duck pictured at Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Floyd Bennett Field, New York, 1942.


2b-A Curtiss SOC-4 Seagull pictured at Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Floyd Bennett Field, New York, 1943.


3-A J2F-6 Duck pictured on the ground at an unidentified location.


4a-An SOC-3 Seagull assigned to Observation Squadron (VO) 1 off the battleship Pennsylvania (BB 38) pictured on the beach at an unidentified location.


4b-Navy Grumman J2F-2 of VJ-1 parked at Hector Field Fargo, ND in 1940.


5-An SOC-3 Seagull assigned to Observation Squadron (VO) 1 off the battleship Pennsylvania (BB 38) pictured along the waterfront with the crew in the cockpits.


5b-US Coast Guard Grumman J2-F Duck pictured on the ground at CGAS New York, NY on December 29, 1943.


5c-This is a photo of a Navy Curtiss SOC-3, BuNo 1077, from VO-1 assigned to the U.S.S. Pennsylvania (BB-38)


5d-Grumman J2-F parked at an unidentified location circa 1934-1945.


5e-U.S. Coast Guard Curtiss SOC-4 Scout of V-171 parked on a cradle at CGAS Cape May, NJ in 1937.


5f-NAS Jacksonville 1940


5g-An SOC-3 Seagull flag transport assigned to Commander in Chief, United States Fleet, pictured on the water.


5h-Navy Grumman J2F-2, BuNo A 0792, of VJ-1 parked at Hector Field in Fargo, ND.


5i-U.S. Coast Guard Curtiss SOC-4 Scout of V-171 parked on a cradle at CGAS Cape May, NJ in 1937.-1


5j-Grumman J-2F undergoing steel prop test at Langley Reseaarch Center.

[Mark Allen M]

5kk-U.S. Coast Guard Grumman J2-F being readied to hoist aboard an unidentified ship.


5k-This is a photo of a Navy Curtiss SOC Seagull being lowered over the side of the U.S.S. Pine Island (AV-12) at sea.


5l-Navy Grumman J2-F Duck assigned to the U.S.S. Heron (AVP-2) in Asiatic Waters during the 1930's waiting to be hoisted aboard the ship


5m-crewmen on board the cruiser U.S.S. Salt Lake City (CL-25) hoisting a Curtiss SOC Seagull of Scouting Squadron (VS)-9S back aboard following an observation flight.


5n-Navy Grumman J2F-4 Duck, BuNo A 1668, of VJ-4 based at NAS Squantum, MA in flight circa 1941


5o-This is a photo of a Navy Curtiss Soc-1, BuNo 985, the first of 135 dash ones, in flight.


5p-Navy Grumman J2F-5 Duck,


5q-Navy Curtiss SOC-2 Seagull, BuNo 0397, assigned to the U.S.S. Langley (CV-1)


5r-Grumman J-2F from Utility Squadron One, Fleet Air Photographic Laboratory, in flight


5s-Navy Grumman J2F-6 Duck, BuNo 33581, carrying a torpedo bomb in flight.


5t-Navy Grumman XJF-1 Duck, BuNo A 9218, in flight on June 8, 1933.


5u-This is a photo of a Navy Curtiss SOC-1 Seagull, BuNo 9986, in flight.


5v-USCG Grumman J2F of V-148 in flight over snow covered mountains.


6b-four Navy Curtiss SON-1's in flight formation. One BuNo, 1181


6c-three Navy Grumman J2F-1's in flight.


6d-This is a photo of four Curtiss SOC-1 Seagulls flying in formation.


6e-This is a photo of four Navy Curtiss SOC-1 Seagulls from the U.S.S. Northampton (CL-26) flying in formation.


7-This is a photo of a Navy Curtiss SOC Seagull on the catapult aboard the U.S.S. West Virginia (BB-48).

[John Dupre]

I worked a couple of times with a long serving Navy Chief who started out on the SOC. After a couple of years they were issued the new Seamew. It was an awful airplane and after a few weeks they sent a signal to headquarters "Give us back our SOCs!" They did too only to trade up to the Kingfisher still later.

[Mark Allen M]

I worked a couple of times with a long serving Navy Chief who started out on the SOC. After a couple of years they were issued the new Seamew. It was an awful airplane and after a few weeks they sent a signal to headquarters "Give us back our SOCs!" They did too only to trade up to the Kingfisher still later.

Interesting airplane.


Curtiss SO3C-1 Seamew in flight


Curtiss SO3C-1 Seamew in flight on July 10 1943


Curtiss SO3C-1 Seamew in flight in 1942


Navy Curtiss XSO3C-1 BuNo 1385 shown with pontoons attached in the harbor at USNS Anacostia DC on June 6 1941


Curtiss SO3C Seamew in flight

[Mark Allen M]

And this guys pretty cool too ... haven't read anything promising about it though.


Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk with wings folded


Navy XSC-1 Seahawk


XSC-1 Seahawk in flight near Naval Air Station NAS Patuxent River Maryland


XSC-1 Seahawk in flight near Naval Air Station NAS Patuxent River Maryland


SC-1 Seahawk floatplane of VO-9 makes a catapult launch from USS Missouri BB63 1945


SC-1 Seahawk floatplane of VO-9 returns to USS Missouri BB63 following an observation flight 1945

This was a nice looking float plane from the other side as well.

[Noha307]

http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=6137


http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/t ... 13533.html

I was gonna post that second one before I noticed that you did. It has to be one of my favorite WWII photos. I hadn't ever seen the first one before, thanks for posting it.

IIRC a PBY involved in either the USS Juneau or Indianapolis rescue had to be sunk because they tied survivors to the wings.

Just one sec...

...and I'm back. USS Indianapolis it was. I used Professor Wikipedia instead though.

Arriving hours ahead of Doyle, Marks' crew began dropping rubber rafts and supplies. Having seen men being attacked by sharks, Marks disobeyed standing orders and landed on the open sea. He began taxiing to pick up the stragglers and lone swimmers who were at the greatest risk of shark attack. Learning the men were the crew of Indianapolis, he radioed the news, requesting immediate assistance. Doyle responded while en route. When Marks' plane was full, survivors were tied to the wings with parachute cord, damaging the wings so that the plane would never fly again and had to be sunk. Marks and his crew rescued 56 men that day.

[The Inspector]

It's obvious that Buarno 33581 was a 'Jack of all trades' if it's lugging a depth charge and is set up as a target tug, did the ships band practice in the lower compartment in flight?

The Mitsubishi F1M1 'Pete' came as a nasty surprize to more than a few early war naval aviators as it was a really formidable opponent and very aerobatic and capable of defending itself.

The SEAMEW shows how far down the pole CURTISS' design Dept had slipped, how does a long term, very sucessful company design an airplane with no diehedral? and the SEAHAWK was too little and way too late.

[Roger Cain]

Excellent set Mark, thanks for taking the time to post these along with the text........

[Roger Cain]

duplicate

[Randy Wilson]

Wonderful, Mark! I always enjoy your "photo essays" even if I don't pipe up and say so.

The Kingfisher is one of the airplanes that fascinated me as a little kid, and helped cause me to become an airport bum and warbird nut for life. I can recall seeing a few pictures of them loaded to the gills with what seemed like a dozen or so shipwrecked sailors, the A/C being hopelessly overloaded and obviously incapable of flight, where the pilot taxied for god-knows-how-far in open ocean to "deliver them from evil", which only caused me to become more fascinated than ever with the type. How I'd love to see some of those pix again. Oh, Professor Google..........


http://ww2db.com/image.php?image_id=6137


http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/t ... 13533.html

These were the only two I could find in short order, any others? What a splendid airplane, and what awesome crews!

This photo appears on page 182 of The Buzzard Brigade: Torpedo Squadron Ten at War by Stephen L. Moore. The caption is as follows, for those interested:

"In one of the more dramatic rescues of the war, a Navy Kingfisher from the battleship North Carolina taxiied through hostile Truk Lagoon to rescue downed aviators. Here, the plane is overloaded with six VT-10 aviators on her wings, plus a fighter pilot. Left to right across the plane are: Ens. Charlie Farrell, ARM2c Joe Hranek, AMM2c Owen Tabrum, ARM1c Jim Livingston, Lt. John J. Burns (pilot in cockpit), Lt. Bob Nelson, AMM1c Bob Gruebel, and Lt.(jg) Robert T. Barber. Burn's radioman, ARM2c Aubrey Gill, is seated facing forward. The sub Tang picked up these nine men (and 13 others this day), before sinking the OS2U."

There is a note that Lt. Burns was later killed during a training flight out of Pensacola, Fla.

Randy

[StangStung]

Thanks so much for posting these. I am fairly confident that the gunner in the series of Kingfisher pics from the USS Detroit is my grandmother's brother. He was a gunner/observer aboard the Detroit when it was in the Aleutians. How many of those guys could there be? Do you have anymore information (pic captions, etc.) from this series?