Editing Vought OS2U Kingfisher (section)

{{Short description|Observation floatplane (in service 1938-59)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= OS2U Kingfisher
 |image= File:OS2U-2 Kingfisher in flight 1942.jpg
 |caption=
 |type= Observation floatplane
 |manufacturer= [[Vought]]
 |first_flight= [[1938 in aviation|1938]]
 |introduction=
 |retired= [[1959 in aviation|1959]] (Cuba)
 |status=
 |primary_user= [[United States Navy]]
 |more_users= [[Royal Navy]]<br/>[[Royal Australian Air Force]]<br/>[[Soviet Navy]]
 |produced=
 |number_built= 1,519
 |variants=
}}
[[File:OS2Us from USS Mississippi (BB-41) with landing gear c1940.jpg|thumb|OS2U with landing gear]]
The '''Vought OS2U Kingfisher''' is an American [[Aircraft catapult|catapult-launched]] observation [[floatplane]]. It was a compact mid-wing [[monoplane]], with a large central float and small stabilizing floats. Performance was modest because of its low-powered [[Radial engine|engine]]. The OS2U could also operate on fixed, wheeled, [[Conventional landing gear|taildragger]] landing gear.

The OS2U was the main shipboard [[observation seaplane]] used by the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]], and 1,519 of the aircraft were built.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} It served on [[battleship]]s and [[cruiser]]s of the U.S. Navy, with the [[United States Marine Corps]] in Marine Scouting Squadron Three (VMS-3), with the [[United States Coast Guard]] at coastal air stations; at sea with the [[Fleet Air Arm]] of the [[Royal Navy]]; with the [[Soviet Navy]]; and with the [[Royal Australian Air Force]].

The [[Naval Aircraft Factory]] OS2N was the designation of the OS2U-3 aircraft built by the Naval Aircraft Factory in [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania]]. The OS2U first flew on 1 March 1938.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}}