OS2U-1 Kingfisher

The Vought OS2U‑1 Kingfisher was a single‑engine, cat‑apult‑launched seaplane that entered U.S. Navy service in 1938. Conceived as a versatile observation and scout aircraft, it saw its first operational use in the Caribbean and Atlantic theater, and rapidly became the Navy’s standard utility floatplane throughout World War II. Powered by a 950 hp Wright R‑1820‑94 radial engine, the Kingfisher could reach 188 mph and carry a crew of two – a pilot and an observer/gunner – in an open cockpit protected by a modest canopy. Its distinctive high‑wing configuration, all‑metal monocoque fuselage, and retractable landing gear (when equipped with amphibious floats) gave it excellent sea‑handling and short‑field performance. The aircraft’s robust construction allowed it to conduct reconnaissance, artillery spotting, anti‑submarine patrols, and even rescue missions, famously retrieving downed airmen from the Pacific islands. Over 1,800 units were built, and the OS2U‑1 earned a reputation for reliability and ease of maintenance, influencing post‑war patrol‑plane designs and cementing Vought’s legacy as a leading naval aircraft manufacturer. Some Kingfishers were also operated by the Royal Navy and later transferred to civilian use for transport and photography; a few survive in museums as icons of naval aviation.