Tag Archives: Grumman JRF-5G

Glamorous Goose

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Some 75 years ago this month, aboard Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, September 1951.

How about a sharp original period Kodachrome of a beautiful Grumman (G-38) Goose amphibian JRF-5G, USCG Hull No. 4792 (MSN B-87, Navy BuNo 84792).

Photo by William T. Larkins, via WikiCommons

Powered by Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-6 radials, the USCG contracted for 24 JRF-5Gs beginning in early 1941, following up on 10 JRF-2/3s purchased in the late 1930s. The Navy also purchased 160 of the type and transferred at least three JRF-5Gs in 1950 that were surplus to its needs, including the above hull.

As noted by the CG Aviation History Assoc:

Prior to World War II these aircraft carried out search and rescue as well as aerial mapping flights and participated in the Coast Guard’s contribution to the enforcement of the Neutrality Patrol. During the war, the JRFs conducted search and rescue operations, transported supplies and personnel, and were utilized for ASW operations. Depth Charges or Bombs were carried externally under the wing.

Survivors of a torpedoed ship hailing a U.S. Coast Guard JRF amphibian. Artwork by Hunter Wood NARA 026-g-021-061-001

Most of the remaining Coast Guard’s JRF-2/3s were disposed of shortly after the end of World War II, while many of the JRF-5Gs remained in service with the Coast Guard until 1954 when they were replaced by another Grumman amphibian, the HU-16 Albatross.

BuNo 84792 was Withdrawn From Use on 21 September 1955. A former Navy plane, others in her batch went to France to fly with Escadrille 8S in Indochina.

But that is a post for later in the week.

Riding around in the Goose

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How about this great early 1941 image of a Coast Guard airman hanging out of the hatch observation window of a seaplane, M1928 Thompson at hand.

Official caption: “Inasmuch as the Coast Guard is primarily a maritime law enforcement agency, the Aviation Arm is often called upon to do such jobs as aiding in the location of smuggling vessels or the capturing of escaped convicts.”

National Archives Identifier 205576693

Judging from the rivets and the window pattern of the above image, which is surely posed on the ground, the aircraft seems to be a Grumman JRF-5G (G-38) Goose amphibian, of which the service acquired 24 in early 1941 as a follow-up to the smaller JRF-2/3 (G-21), which did not have the same window in the hatch.

As noted by the CG Aviation History Assoc:

Prior to World War II these aircraft carried out search and rescue as well as aerial mapping flights and participated in the Coast Guard’s contribution to the enforcement of the Neutrality Patrol. During the war, the JRFs conducted search and rescue operations, transported supplies and personnel, and were utilized for ASW operations. Depth Charges or Bombs were carried externally under the wing.

Most of the remaining Coast Guard’s JRF-2/3s were disposed of shortly after the end of World War II while many of the JRF-5Gs remained in service with the Coast Guard until 1954.

USCG JRF-5G No. 4792 aboard Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, September 1951, via Wikicommons. Note the back hatch and rivet pattern.