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Vought OS2U Kingfisher
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==Operational history== [[File:Aviation cadet on OS2U at NAS Corpus Christi 1942.jpg|thumb|left|Aviation cadet in OS2U Kingfisher at the Naval Air Base, Corpus Christi, Texas]] [[File: Vought OS2U Kingfisher with rescued airmen off Truk on 1 May 1944 (80-G-227991).jpg|thumb|right|Downed American airmen near Truk await rescue from [[USS Tang (SS-306)|USS ''Tang'']] on the wings of an OS2U Kingfisher, 1 May 1944]] {{multiple image | align = right | image1 = USS Iowa (BB-61) Planes.jpg | width1 = 220 | alt1 = | caption1 = | image2 = USS Missouri recovers its Vought OS2U Kingfisher aircraft.jpg | width2 = 120 | alt2 = | caption2 = | footer = {{USS|Iowa|BB-61|2}} launches <small>(left)</small> while {{USS|Missouri|BB-63|2}} recovers <small>(right)</small> Vought OS2U Kingfishers in 1944. }} The first 54 Kingfishers were delivered to the U.S. Navy beginning in August 1940, and 6 had been assigned to the [[Pearl Harbor]]βbased Battle Force before the end of the same year. Many of the following 158 OS2U-2s were attached to flight training at [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], Florida, but 53 were assigned to equip the newly established Inshore Patrol Squadrons, based at [[Naval Air Station Jacksonville]], Florida. In 1942, nine more Inshore Patrol Squadrons were established, all exclusively equipped with OS2N-1s built by the [[Naval Aircraft Factory]].<ref>Bowers 1990, p. 447.</ref> The Kingfisher was widely used as a shipboard, catapult-launched scout plane on U.S. Navy [[Battleships in World War II|battleships]], [[heavy cruiser]]s, and [[light cruiser]]s during [[World War II]] and played a major role in support of shore [[bombardment]]s and air-sea rescue. Two examples showing the plane's rescue capabilities include the recovery of [[World War I]] ace [[Eddie Rickenbacker]] and his crew from the Pacific in November 1942<ref>Doll and Jackson 1975, pp. 122β123</ref> and Lieutenant John A. Burns' unique use of the aircraft on 30 April 1944 to taxi airmen rescued from [[Chuuk Lagoon|Truk Lagoon]] to the submarine {{USS|Tang|SS-306|2}}, which was serving rescue duty near the atoll. In all, Burns rescued ten survivors on two trips<ref>Doll and Jackson 1975, pp.123, 127.</ref> and was awarded the [[Navy Cross]] for his efforts. The [[United States Coast Guard]] received 76 OS2U-3 Kingfishers starting in 1942 and employed them in anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, and search and rescue roles. No Coast Guard Kingfisher is credited with sinking any enemy submarines; however, they were successful in rescuing sailors from ships sunk by enemy torpedoes. The Coast Guard operated Kingfishers until October 1944.<ref name="CGAH"/> Australia received 18 Kingfishers from a batch of aircraft ordered by the [[Dutch East Indies]] that was diverted to Australia in 1942. They were initially used as training aircraft for pilots destined for [[flying boat]]s, but in 1943 they were used to equip [[No. 107 Squadron RAAF]], which carried out convoy escort duties until disbanded in October 1945.<ref name="Vincent p54-9">Vincent 1998, pp. 54β59.</ref> One Kingfisher was used in support of the Australian National Antarctic Research Expedition in 1947β48.<ref name="Vincent p61-2">Vincent 1998, pp. 61β62.</ref> Throughout its U.S. Navy service, the OS2U and even its predecessor, the [[Curtiss SOC Seagull]], served much longer than planned, as the planned successor, the [[Curtiss SO3C Seamew]], suffered from an insufficiently powerful engine which was a complete failure.<ref>Bowers 1990, p. 164.</ref> The OS2U was only slowly replaced in the latter stages of World War II with the introduction of the [[Curtiss SC Seahawk]], the first examples reaching the U.S. Navy in October 1944.<ref>Bowers 1990, p. 169.</ref>
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