Vought-Sikorsky VS-310 OS2U-3 Kingfisher

Vought-Sikorsky VS-310 OS2U-3 Kingfisher

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01/22/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "The USN accepted this aircraft on March 15, 1942 and in May 1942, it was issued to Observation Squadron Eight (VO-8) serving Battleship Division Eight (BatDiv-8) consisting of the battleships USS Indiana (BB-58) and Massachusetts (BB-59). This OS2U served in USS Indiana. In December 1942, it was reassigned to Scouting Squadron Five in the 14th Naval District (VS-5-D14), later redesigated Scouting Squadron Fifty Five (VS-55), and based on New Caledonia Island, a French possession in the South Pacific Ocean. This Kingfisher was returned to the USA and after six-months at NAS Alameda, California, for overhaul and to receive new equipment, it was shipped to Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii and rejoined VO-8 aboard the USS Indiana in March 1944. The aircraft then had 957 hours on the airframe, 300 of them while serving in Indiana.

On July 4, 1944, the pilot of this aircraft rescued two USN airmen who had been shot down over Guam, Mariana Islands and flew them back to the Indiana. For his action, the pilot was awarded the Navy Cross. By August 1944, this Kingfisher was assigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit Thirty Four (CASU-34) and was shipped back to NAS Alameda, California, in the escort aircraft carrier USS Bougainville (CVE-100) in December 1944. After a six-month overhaul, it was flown to NAS Norfolk, Virginia, and was placed in storage in the spring on 1947. In 1948, the aircraft was earmarked for the National Air Museum (now NASM) and was placed in storage at NAS Weeksville, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where it remained for a year until being shipped back to NAS Norfolk for storage.

The OS2U remained in storage at NAS Norfolk until the summer of 1960 when it was transferred to the NAM's Paul E. Garber Restoration and Storage and Storage Facility in Suitland, Maryland. It was loaned to the USS Massachusetts Memorial at Battleship Cover, Fall River, Massachusetts, from July 1968 to December 1980. Between November 1983 and April 1988, the aircraft was restored to its original condition.

As of this date, this aircraft is on display at the NASM's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia."


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01/22/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "The USN accepted this aircraft on March 15, 1942 and in May 1942, it was issued to Observation Squadron Eight (VO-8) serving Battleship Division Eight (BatDiv-8) consisting of the battleships USS Indiana (BB-58) and Massachusetts (BB-59). This OS2U served in USS Indiana. In December 1942, it was reassigned to Scouting Squadron Five in the 14th Naval District (VS-5-D14), later redesigated Scouting Squadron Fifty Five (VS-55), and based on New Caledonia Island, a French possession in the South Pacific Ocean. This Kingfisher was returned to the USA and after six-months at NAS Alameda, California, for overhaul and to receive new equipment, it was shipped to Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii and rejoined VO-8 aboard the USS Indiana in March 1944. The aircraft then had 957 hours on the airframe, 300 of them while serving in Indiana. On July 4, 1944, the pilot of this aircraft rescued two USN airmen who had been shot down over Guam, Mariana Islands and flew them back to the Indiana. For his action, the pilot was awarded the Navy Cross. By August 1944, this Kingfisher was assigned to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit Thirty Four (CASU-34) and was shipped back to NAS Alameda, California, in the escort aircraft carrier USS Bougainville (CVE-100) in December 1944. After a six-month overhaul, it was flown to NAS Norfolk, Virginia, and was placed in storage in the spring on 1947. In 1948, the aircraft was earmarked for the National Air Museum (now NASM) and was placed in storage at NAS Weeksville, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, where it remained for a year until being shipped back to NAS Norfolk for storage. The OS2U remained in storage at NAS Norfolk until the summer of 1960 when it was transferred to the NAM's Paul E. Garber Restoration and Storage and Storage Facility in Suitland, Maryland. It was loaned to the USS Massachusetts Memorial at Battleship Cover, Fall River, Massachusetts, from July 1968 to December 1980. Between November 1983 and April 1988, the aircraft was restored to its original condition. As of this date, this aircraft is on display at the NASM's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles International Airport, Chantilly, Virginia."