BuNos! Vought-Sikorsky OS2U and Naval Aircraft Factory OS2N Kingfishers

Book excerpt: The Vought OS2U Kingfisher became a rugged and dependable catapulted floatplane assigned to the US Navy's battleships and cruisers and a handful of destroyers who utilized them as artillery spotters, long-range reconnaissance, search and rescue missions and even administrative flights. The Kingfisher played a vital role when radar technology was in its infancy. While the US Navy, US Marine Corps and US Coast Guard flew them, these Kingfishers also served in the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Air Force and even the Soviet Navy. There were 1,519 built and less than 1% survive today, mostly in museums around the world. This book not only introduces the reader to the stories behind how these Kingfishers performed their varied missions, but also lists the FINAL DISPOSITION of nearly all 1,519 airframes! This research took some 2,000 hours to complete and is the first book of its kind to show each Kingfisher, by their Bureau Number, and what happened to them.