USS North Carolina Memorial OS2U Kingfisher history ...

[Mark Allen M]

Kind of interesting ...

The Origins of the Battleship’s Kingfisher

"It was August 20, 1942 and a dense fog shrouded uninhabited Calvert Island, Canada. A formation of new OS2U-3 Kingfishers passed overhead enroute to the Aleutian Islands. In the fog, the formation became separated and one Kingfisher slammed into the side of Mt. Buxton. This plane was flown by pilot Ensign Mac J. Roebuck and gunner AMM1/c Stanley Goddard. Incredibly, Roebuck and Goddard were unhurt and walked down the mountain to the coast where they were rescued. The plane was left to the elements after a brief salvage operation.

In 1963, the Canadian authorities recovered the plane and shipped it to the Air Museum in Calgary. The wreckage was then turned over to the NORTH CAROLINA for restoration. The Battleship requested that Vought Aeronautics restore the plane. In 1970, it was shipped to Dallas, Texas, where the Quarter-Century Club (made up of retired Vought workers) began the restoration. After a year of work, the OS2U-3 Kingfisher was placed aboard the Battleship and dedicated on June 25, 1971." Kim Sincox, Museum Services Director, Battleship NC

USS North Carolina (BB-55)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_North_Carolina_(BB-55)








Mac Roebuck, a U.S. Navy pilot, stands next to an OS2U Kingfisher in which he made a crash landing on Mt. Buxton, Calvert Island, British Columbia, Canada. 1942


RCAF helicopter picking up wrecked USN OS2U Kingfisher from Mt. Buxton, British Columbia 22 years after the crashing. 1964


Mac J. Roebuck, the pilot of the OS2U Kingfisher that crashed on Mt. Buxton, British Columbia, Canada, in 1942, visits Vought Aeronautics plant in 1970 to see his old plane before its restoration.

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Pilot of the OS2U Kingfisher that crashed on Mt. Buxton, British Columbia in 1942, visits Vought Aeronautics plant in 1971 to see his old plane after rebuilt.


OS2U Kingfisher exhibited on deck


OS2U Kingfisher exhibited on deck


Aerial view of the USS North Carolina Battleship Memorial, 2006

Photo sources: NMNA archives, Wiki, SDASM archives

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:47 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Mark Allen M]

Sorry as I'm sure most of you already know the history of the USS NC's kingfisher, but it still is an interesting story how it came to be. Also sorry for posting 'boats' when this site is all about the 'planes'

Can't help but to post this shot below. Super groovy shot IMHO.


Tugboats and U.S. Navy warships pictured in the Hudson River with the New York City skyline in the background on the occasion of Navy Day on October 27, 1945. Visible in the foreground are the anchored heavy cruisers Augusta (CA 31), Helena (CA 75), and Macon (CA 132); carriers Midway (CVB 41) and Enterprise (CV 6); and battleships Missouri (BB 63), North Carolina (BB-55) and New York (BB 34).

Last edited by Mark Allen M on Sat Jan 30, 2016 11:49 am, edited 1 time in total.

[APG85]

Great pictures and story...!!!

[Gilbrook]

Hi,

Can you get photo links to work? All getting "not found".

Thank you.

[Mark Allen M]

Photobucket is "down for maintenance" at the moment. As soon as it's up and running I'll reload those photos.

M

[Gilbrook]

Photobucket is "down for maintenance" at the moment. As soon as it's up and running I'll reload those photos.

M

OK, that wiil be great when photos are back.

Thank you.

[Mark Allen M]

Photos reloaded ...

[whistlingdeath77]

Wonderful story, I love the measure scheme on the battleship

[Warbird Kid]

Interesting story but still a shame to see this rare warbird (especially a locally built one) out on display in the open air. I wish someone would build fiberglass replicas to replace the few original Kingfishers we have on the Battleships.

[whistlingdeath77]

Anyone else notice the plastic and duct tape on the right wing and float?