Coastie Kingfishers
The Vought OS2U Kingfisher floatplane, with over 1,500 OS2U-3 delivered between August 1940 and December 1942, is and will forever be remembered as a U.S. Navy asset. After all, it flew during WWII from most of the fleet’s battleships and cruisers as well as from seaplane tenders resting inshore/near-shore and from coastal bases.
It went overseas as Lend Lease aid to Australia, Britain, Chile, Cuba, Mexico, Russia, Uruguay, and others.
They were also flown extensively by the U.S. Coast Guard who was the second most prolific non-USN operator behind the RN’s Fleet Air Arm.
Beginning in March 1942 the USCG received the first of what would be 76 Kingfishers. Most (68) would be late-model OS2U-3s, but there would also be at least seven earlier OS2U-2s and a single early OS2N-1.
They were based, typically in two or four-aircraft dets, to several East and Gulf Coast CG Air Stations for coastal patrol.
OS2U-3; “‘Sea Birds’ With a Sting: Wings of the fighting U.S. Coast Guard, these ‘Sea Birds’ pack a sting–powerful depth charges–for enemy submarines molesting United Nations’ convoys. Photographed at an East Coast air base [Air Station Salem], the Coast Guard planes are about to take off on convoy patrol.” No date; Photo No. 224; photographer unknown; four OS2Us in line, on the tarmac in front of hangar at Coast Guard Air Station Salem; from ground level. USCG Historian’s Office
CGAS Biloxi Kingfisher in Back Bay with 325-pound depth charges on-water
“Tough Sea Bird” Kingfisher OS2U-3s flown by Coast Guard aviators over a coastal convoy. NARA 026-g-023-059-001
“The Eyes of Coast Guard,” 26 December 1942. OS2U Kingfishers on antisubmarine patrol, NARA 026-g-023-035-001
As detailed by CG Aviation History:
Their primary purpose was to provide the Coast Guard’s early anti-submarine efforts along the coastlines of the United States. Area patrols were flown and air cover for merchant convoys was provided. They carried two 325 aerial depth charges and could fly patrols of up to six hours.
None of the OS2Us were credited with sinking a submarine but they did make a number of attacks on submarines along the seaboards. There were 61 recorded attacks on enemy submarines made by Coast Guard aircraft. The preponderance of these was made in 1942 when there was a heavy concentration of German submarines off the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
As seen in yesterday’s Warship Wednesday with the survivors of the heroic cutters Bedloe and Jackson, they also made and coordinated many rescues of survivors from torpedoed and lost ships.
The type was withdrawn from USCG service in October 1944.
The Coast Guard remembers the type well through its Art Program over the years.
“This image depicts artwork of an OS2U3 floatplane performing an aerial attack on a submarine. A U.S. Coast Guard amphibian plane sweeps down from the sky and scores a direct bomb hit on a surfaced Nazi U-boat.” Artwork by USCG artist Hunter Wood. NARA 205575756
Another of Hunter Wood’s USCG Kingfisher vs U-boat series paintings, NARA 205575761
“Vought Kingfisher, Circa 1942, OS2U-3,” William Ellsworth, watercolor, 11 x 15. U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Collection, Ob ID # 200120
“Achtung! Achtung!” by George Schoenberger: A Coast Guard OS2U-3 Kingfisher patrol, plane surprises a German U-boat on the surface off the Atlantic Coast during World War II. The submarine is waiting for stragglers from a convoy just over the horizon. U.S. Coast Guard Art Program Collection
“Where needed, we go,” An OS2U Kingfisher seaplane enters a storm on search patrol. William Ellsworth. Chinese ink, 15 x 11. U.S. Coast Guard Art Program 2005, Ob ID # 200510