08/15/2008. Remarks by Aubry Gratton: "This aircraft, and those on the following three pages, were former USN aircraft owned by Ontario Provincial Air Service that was established in 1924. They were used in northern Ontario by the Ontario provincial government for aerial photo surveys, forest fire spotting and general transport. These photos were taken by my uncle Monty Baker who worked for the service at the time.

The MF flying boat was built in 1916 as a military two-seater developed from the model F, powered by an 100 hp Curtiss OXX-3 eight-cylinder liquid-cooled V-engine. The USN initially ordered six aircraft (BuNo A-2345 to A-2350), followed by an order for an additional forty-seven (BuNo A-4403 to A-4449). However, after the Armistice in 1918 the second order was cancelled after 16 were delivered, and many of the twenty-two delivered aircraft were converted for civil use. Later the Naval Aircraft Factory built another 80 aircraft (BuNo A-5483 to A-5562).

A civil four-seat version of the MF was developed after the war, powered by an 150 hp Curtiss K-6 six-cylinder liquid-cooled in-line engine, it was known as the Seagull. Only a few were built.

The pictured MF was registered as G-CADI on July 30, 1925, the registration was cancelled on November 23, 1926, as the aircraft was broken up."