Tag Archives: JRF-5G Goose

The French Brown Water Geese of Indochina

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Following up on Tuesday’s post on USCG Grumman (G-38) JRF-5G Goose amphibians, what’s the rest of the story of the type’s journey in Indochina?

Twelve ex-USN JRF-5s were sold to France in 1952 and delivered to Escadrille 8.S, based at Cat-Lai (later a major Brown Water Navy base) near Saigon (Indochina).

Viet Minh War, 1954, a French Grumman Goose (JRF-5) aids the gunboats patrolling the inland waters of Indo-China. NH 79370

They were mainly used for medevac, transport, and liaison, but in a pinch were equipped with bombs and gun pods to operate in coastal and riverine interdiction.

Five additional ex-USN JRF-5s were delivered in 1954 and fielded at Tan Son Nhut, still under E 8.S.

JRF-5 Goose French Navy Aéronautique navale l’Escadrille 8.S Indochina

Once the French withdrew, four still-flyable JRF-5s were sent to the South Pacific colony of New Caledonia, while the rest were shipped to African colonies.

Goose dets endured at Alger-Maison Blanche (Algeria), where E 8.S was relocated, as well as with 27F in Senegal, flying from Ouakam and Dakar Bel-Air until 1961, when they were finally withdrawn after a Goose making a connection between Dakar and Simti crashed on take-off and caught fire at Tambacounda, Senegal, where it had stopped over, killing six, including two crew, VADM Pierre Ponchardier and his wife, and another married couple. Ponchardier was the famed founder of the French SAS B Commando in 1945 and Dinassaut 8, both of which went on to lots of sneaky para and frogmen things in Indochina.

JRF-5 Goose, French Navy 27 Flotte, F-12, in Dakar, late 1950s. This is USN BuNo 34078, which flew with Escadrille 8S as 8S-7, and was lost with Ponchardier and five others on 27 Jan 1961.

JRF-5 Goose French Navy Aéronavale l’Escadrille 8.S in Algeria late 1950s

JRF-5 Goose, French Navy, Aéronautique navale Dakar 1960

These 12 ex-USN aircraft are confirmed to Aéronautique Navale Escadrille 8S, Indochina:
  • BuNo 04349 (French 8S-3, w/o Sep 24, 1953. SOC Spr 21, 1954)
  • BuNo 04358 (8S-1, WFU Dec 5, 1961)
  • BuNo 34078 (8S-7, later 27F-12 out of Dakar, lost 27 Jan 1961)
  • BuNo 37784 (8S-2, WFU May 24, 1960 at St Mandrier, France
  • BuNo 37791 (8S-4, later N75333, crashed Oct 9, 1974, after takeoff from Wichita, Kansas
  • BuNo 37831 (the second 8S-8; w/o Oct 4, 1956 at Cape Tenes, Algeria)
  • BuNo 84799 (8S-5, WFU Dec 5, 1961)
  • BuNo 84818 (8S-11, w/o Apr 25, 1953 at Cat Lai)
  • BuNo 87727 (8S-8, w/o Apr 3, 1952 at Nha Trang)
  • BuNo 87738 (the second 8S-11, w/o Nov 7, 1958 at St Mandrier
  • BuNo 87741 (8S-9, WFU Aug 25, 1959)
  • BuNo 87742 (8S-10, WFU Dec 5, 1961)

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.

Circa 1943 Kodachrome of a camouflaged blue/white Vought OS2U Kingfisher with landing gear instead of floats, a Howard NH-1 (militarized DGA-15) trainer in “yellow peril” scheme, a blue Grumman JRF-5 Goose (militarized G-38), and three PBM Mariner flying boats at NAS, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. 80-GK-14313

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.