Curtiss Seamew info needed

[merlin101]

Looking for construction numbers, dates delivered (each a/c) & qty delivered for the British Fleet Air Arm version SO3C. Its for a forthcoming up-date of the Air Britain book FAA a/c '39-'45. Also anydetails known of the Queen Seamews that were planned, but not delivered to the FAA.

[Tulio]

"Intended British deliveries were:

Requisition 2850 FN450-FN499 No USN Numbers
Requisition 7208 FN500-FN599 SOR-1, cancelled
Requisition 7208 FN600-FN649 No USN Numbers
Requisition N-10 JW550-JW699 No USN Numbers"

May I suggest:

Air Arsenal North America
by Phil Butler, with Dan Hagedorn
ISBN 1-85780-163-6
Midland / Ian Allan

The data above, comes from this book.

Saludos,


Tulio

[merlin101]

ok thanks for that. unfortunately i already have those details. Its individual construction numbers I'm after & delivery dates. I'm hoping someone conected to Curtiss or has records might help!
Fingers crossed!!

[mike furline]

Book #NF-47 is on Seamews,
http://www.mozeyoninn.com/Ginter/NAVAL/NAVAL.htm

from the book,
"At least thirty of these radio-controlled targets were assigned to Britain, where they were designated Queen Seamews, and used to supplement the Royal Navy's de Havilland Quenn Bee target aircraft.

The aircraft were quickly discarded by the British too. They were used to equip training squadrons numbers 744 and 745 based at Yarmouth, Canada, and Worthy Down, Hampshire. Most of the 250 British aircraft delivered ended up in Canada as marginal target tugs."

[Raven]

The aircraft were quickly discarded by the British too. They were used to equip training squadrons numbers 744 and 745 based at Yarmouth, Canada, and Worthy Down, Hampshire. Most of the 250 British aircraft delivered ended up in Canada as marginal target tugs."

Suggest you contact the Canadian Naval Aviation Museum at Shearwater Merlin. Good archive, may have some data on the Canadian end. Also the CWH and Canadian aviation Museums are both excellent resources. This is a marginal query for them, but if you don't ask...

http://www.shearwateraviationmuseum.ns.ca/
http://www.warplane.com/
http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/

[tom d. friedman]

i've got a few original ww 2 seamew aircraft silhouette i.d. posters, both on landing gear & floats, take your pick. great condition. email me if interested, 20 bucks w/ shipping.

[merlin101]

Merlin,

The following Bu# were assign to the SO3C-2C that were deliever to the FAA/RN.

Bu# 4784 thru 4792

With the exception of 4786 which was lost in a prior to the transferr.

RER

where these numbers from? the FAA had approx 250 Seamews, so any more numbers Col?

[bilwor]

The numbers FN450/649 (200), JW550/669 (120) were allotted for FAA Seamew I. Only FN453, 463/467, 472/475. 483. 489, 573, 608, 622, 631 were delivered for a total of 16.

JK663/669, JZ771/774, KE286/304 Queen Seamew I (Target Drones) were allotted with KE286/304 never delivered>

The U S Navy Bu Numbers for the Curtiss SO3C-2C (designation for Lend Lease to Britiain) were 4784/4792 (9), 22007/22256 (250). None of 22057/22256 were delivered to Britain and only some of the others were delivered.

From the above info it looks like only 16 Seamew I and 11 Queen Seamew I were delivered to FAA.

Sources:
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher/navyserial.html

British Military Aircraft Serials 1912-1966, Bruce Robertson, Ian Allan Ltd

US Military Aircraft Designations and Serials 1909 to 1979, John M Andrade, Midland Counties Publications

Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947, Peter M Bowers, Naval Institute Press

British Naval Aircreft since 1912, Owen Thetford, Naval Institute Press

I hope this helps.
bill word