So when i found a good bargain on ebay, o bought this kingfisher. The vought os2u kingfisher was the standard catapultlaunched observation aircraft for the us navy during the second world war. The vought os2u kingfisher was an observation floatplane that first flew in 1938. The os2u3 was the most numerous variant of the kingfisher with over 970 examples built, and the only version of the kingfisher to be exported. Rex beisel, a design engineer at vought sikorsky aircraft company, crafted the os2u in 1937. A fantastic price for anyone interested in these workhorses of the us navy scout plane fleet. Originally intended for use by the netherlands east indies. Air arm received 100 machines with float and wheel gear, entering service as kingfisher is. Vought os2u kingfisher shipborne reconnaissance scout.
See more ideas about kingfisher, aircraft and flying boat. Most os2us operated in the pacific theater where the main role was to rescue downed airmen. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and check out our resources for adapting to these times. Il vought os2u kingfisher was an american catapultlaunched observation floatplane. It was a compact midwing monoplane, with a large central float and small stabilizing floats. List by royal australian air force raaf serial number. Chance vought survivor club history chance vought survivors club swift museum foundation red river swift wing. Navys primary shipbased, scout and observation airplane during world war ii. The kingfisher illustrated in locally manufactured dark state grey, extra dark sea grey and sky blue camouflage. Their primary purpose was to provide the coast guards early anti. At vought sikorsky division of united aircraft, east hartford, connecticutt.
The os2u was the main shipboard observation aircraft used by the united states navy during. The british kingfisher i was a counterpart of the os2u 3. Vought os2u2 3 kingfisher beginning in march 1942 the coast guard received the first of 76 kingfishers. Vought os2u3 kingfisher national air and space museum. The was used on battleships and heavy cruisers for scouting purposes.
I think my fascination of this plane comes from my dad telling me a bunch of stories of his time in the navy watching the kingfisher getting launched off the battleship catapult and being retrieved with the crane. Internet modeler riich 1200 os2u kingfisher with launcher. Vought os2u kingfisher specifications technical data. Vought sikorskys os2u kingfisher was derived from the companys considerable experience in building o2u and o3u observation aircraft for the navy. These were the stipulated colors and were very suitable for the dark blue coastal water around australia. We are aware of 5 similar reference publications related to vought os2u kingfisher. The os2u was the main shipboard observation aircraft used by the. Os2u kingfisher by dana bell classic warships publishing. Two further and generally similar series, the os2u 2 and 3, followed the latter also going into production at the naval aircraft factory as the os2n1. Vought sikorsky os2u kingfisher paperback january 1, 2009 by kev darling author see all formats and editions hide other formats and editions. Out of the three projects submitted the vought example was the one chosen and on march 1, 1938 the first prototype took to the air.
The os2u could also operate on fixed, wheeled, taildragger landing gear. Navy vought os2u2 kingfisher seaplane in flight in early 1942. I would love to see an fsk version of this rare modeled float plane. Unless otherwise indicated, all photos by michael benolkin. Text next turns to international kingfisher use then swiftly segues to an airframe and performance brief, before recapping wwii combat service. Vought os2u kingfisher images gallery detailing the shipborne reconnaissance scout floatplane below are images of the vought os2u kingfisher shipborne reconnaissance scout floatplane. The os2u kingfisher was a bigger more capable aircraft with 450 horse power.
The vought os2u kingfisher is a singleengine twoseat observation aircraft produced by the american manufacturer vought sikorsky aircraft, later by the vought division of united aircraft corp the kingfisher was the primary shipbased observation aircraft of the us navy during wwii. Dec 9, 2015 vought kingfisher os2u float plane in us navy service. Riich 1200 os2u kingfisher with launcher by chris banyairiepl. If you would prefer a particular manual to be supplied as a paper copy, please contact us for a quotation. This is the third book by classic warships in the aircraft pictorial series and the second book authored by dana bell. Vought os2u kingfisher with rescued airmen off truk on 1 may 1944 80g227991. It was capable of flying for up to six hours at 70 mph using special flaps and ailerons. Vought os2u3 kingfisher is recovered uss baltimore ca68 after she had rescued lieutenant junior grade george m. Performance was modest because of its lowpowered engine. Performance was modest, because of its light engine.
The kingfishers were modified for coast guard use and were designated os2u3s. Navy usn bureau number os2u 5750 crashed february 1, 1944 os2u 5906 crashed february 1, 1944 os2u 5985 assigned to raaf as kingfisher a482. This is aircraft pictorial 3 os2u kingfisher by dana bell. Price new from used from paperback, 2009 please retry.
Arrived in australia april 1942 and received at rathmines. Well, lets get down to the nittygritty and see how the kit goes together. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Vought os2u2 3 kingfisher 1942 coast guard aviation. Vought delivered 368 os2u 3s in 1941, and an additional 638 were completed in 1942, when production was terminated. Instead, shipped to australia arriving during april 1942. The vought osu kingfisher, the seaplane that sank a uboat. Any questions, comments, or problems, please email me. The naval aircraft factory built 300 similar aircraft, designated os2u1. Vought s os2u kingfisher first took flight on march 1 st 1938. Adfserials image gallery voughtsikorsky os2u3 kingfisher.
As a result it was the first bare metal kingfisher. The naval aircraft factory built 300 similar aircraft, designated os2u 1. Here is an 11 photo walk around of the vought os2u3 5909 kingfisher. This observation floatplane, conceived as a replacement for the curtiss soc seagull biplane floatplane, operated from american navy battleships, cruisers, and even a few destroyers via catapult and from shore bases around the world during world war ii. Vought os2u kingfisher, airfix 172 plastic models world. One of the requirements was that the plane could operate from both the ground and water. I ordered this book that was about the history of the kingfisher sea plane used as a spotter, and air sea rescue air craft in ww2 it was deployed on battle ships this was the type of air craft my father flew in in ww2 while he was stationed on board the batthe ship indiana. Navy observation plane of the war, with excellent construction and visibility. Vought kingfisher os2u us navy aircraft, vintage aircraft. Nov 23, 2015 the os2u kingfisher was a bigger more capable aircraft with 450 horse power. Americas iconic wwii floatplane enjoys warpaint treatment in the 111th installment of the perennially popular series. After the b17 in which he was flying ditched in the pacific in. By 120144 approval was given to modify all the kingfishers.
The vought os2u kingfisher is a singleengine twoseat observation aircraft produced by the american manufacturer vought sikorsky aircraft, later by the vought division of united aircraft corpthe kingfisher was the primary shipbased observation aircraft of the us navy during wwii. Discussion vought os2u kingfisher electric warbirds. It came in both float and landbased configurations, and served as observer aircraft, antisubmarine aircraft, and rescue aircraft. Home aircraft manuals sz vought sikorsky os2u kingfisher these manuals are supplied in adobe pdf format, and delivered via digital download, processed within 2448 hours. Os2u from vo1 aboard the uss arizona 1941 float os2u from vo1 aboard the uss pennsylvania 1940 wheeled os2u 3, in soviet union service, 1944 float os2u in raf service, 1943 float os2u 3 in usn service, 1941 float i am not sure if the last aircraft, the os2u 3 is from 1941. Voughts kingfisher floatplane was slow, but it saved many.
Apr 15, 2020 one of my favorite battleship observation aircraft. The float provided with this kit measures 10 inches, equivalent to a scale 26 feet 7. A most extensive aid in the modeling of the os2u kingfisher, as well as a great source of information on the aircraft. Flown to lake boga vic 060945, where the last 9 remaining. Seaplane vought os2ukingfisher from the light cruiser uss miami cl89 in flight 10th february.
Click through the available thumbnails to enlarge the images. Os2u 3 kingfisher photo walk around click on thumbnail photo to see a larger picture, then use your browsers back button to return to this page. Flown to lake boga vic 060945, where the last 9 remaining kingfishers were stored. It was a compact midwing monoplane, with a big central float and small stabilizing floats. Served with the seaplane training flight, later 3 otu and 107 sqn in may 1943.
Os2u3 kingfisher photo walk around click on thumbnail photo to see a larger picture, then use your browsers back button to return to this page. Vought s versatile kingfisher served as a gun spotter, patrol plane, antisubmarine scout, utility transport and trainer, but downed aircrews remembered it best as an angel on floats legendary world war i ace eddie rickenbacker owed his life to a vought os2u kingfisher. Spanning just 48 pages, vought os2u kingfisher begins with design, development and initial deployment notes. So, my purpose here will be to step by step the exterior painting and weathering to. The design dated to a 1937 request for bids from the u. In so doing the slow but steady kingfisher earned the sobriquet eyes of the. In between these two momentous events the rugged os2u served the fleet in numerous capacities but predominately as eyes for the big guns of the battleships and cruisers and for rescue work. The os2u was the main shipboard observation aircraft used by the united states navy. View of a vought kingfisher reconnaissance plane as it takes off from an unidentified us navy warship 1940 stunning photographs by life photographer frank scherschel of a vought kingfisher scout plane.
Feb 21, 2018 the os2u kingfisher was a product of the vought aircraft firm, appearing initially as the vs. Vought delivered 368 os2u3s in 1941, and an additional 638 were completed in 1942, when production was terminated. Navy for a twoseat observation aircraft that could be either land or water based and was small enough to operate from a battleship. Os2u3, nas corpus 1942 float os2u from vo1 aboard the uss arizona 1941 float. Their primary purpose was to provide the coast guards early antisubmarine efforts along the coastlines of the united states. Navy service on may 23, 1941 the same week as the royal navys frantic hunt for the german battleship bismarck, in part with observation aircraft. The vought os2u kingfisher was an american catapultlaunched observation floatplane. This plane was used as direct gunfire during the invasion of peleliu september 1944. This monograph on the vought os2u kingfisher is the second monograph dana has written for the aircraft pictorial series from classic warships publishing. These pictures were taken and shared with the web by bill spidle. Vought os2u wwii kingfisher kingfishers were in the action all the way, from the attack on pearl harbor to the signing on the decks of the missouri.
Vought os2u 3 kingfisher is recovered uss baltimore ca68 after she had rescued lieutenant junior grade george m. Soft cover, landscape a4 format, 72 pages plus covers. Vought products ve7 bluebird the aircraft that got a company off the ground production additional models as a history maker o2u corsair christian frank schilt, marine observation squadron 7 os2u kingfisher. Vought sikorsky aircraft divisions os2u kingfisher was the u. The vought os2u kingfisher is an american catapultlaunched observation floatplane. The vought os2u kingfisher was a catapultlaunched, observation floatplane.
The most famous incident involving a kingfisher was the rescue of captain eddie rickenbacker, who. Voughts design, various seats used in the cockpit, storage arrangement of the. Mar 16, 2018 the vought os2u kingfisher was an american catapultlaunched observation floatplane. With the paint removed and modifications as mentioned, the aircraft speed increased 6 knots. The os2u kingfisher came about from a specification in 1937 for a new twoseat observation and reconnaissance aircraft. Jul 14, 2009 discussion vought os2u kingfisher electric warbirds. Originally intended for the koninklijke marine royal netherlands navy with serial number v20. The os2u was the main shipboard observation seaplane used by the united states navy during. Performance was modest because of its light engine. Os2u 3 kingfisher a48 about to be loaded on board hmas wyatt earp, antarctic flight, commonwealth bay, antarctica, feb. Octopus 172 vought os2u kingfisher internet modeler.
After pouring over these pictures and seeing the weathering possibilities i was hooked and had to build the kit. Beisel also designed the vought f4u corsair fighter see nasm collection. Like his previous book on the vindicator this one is packed full of useful information, photos, and drawings. Home aircraft manuals sz voughtsikorsky os2u kingfisher these manuals are supplied in adobe pdf format, and delivered via digital download, processed within 2448 hours. Over 1500 were built and the kingfisher operated off of cruisers and battleships throughout the war. It was designed to be catapultlaunched, but could also operate using fixed or wheeled landing gear, and was generally considered to be underpowered despite it being the primary shipboard observation aircraft of the usn. Os2u3 kingfishers a484jee and a483jed 107 squadron, c. The os2u kingfisher was a product of the vought aircraft firm, appearing initially as the vs.