Vought OS2U Kingfisher

The Vought OS2U Kingfisher was a single‑engine, biplane scout‑observation aircraft built for the United States Navy in the late 1930s. Designed by Vought Aircraft, the prototype first flew on 20 August 1938 and entered service in early 1939. Its rugged construction—steel‑tube fuselage with fabric covering, interchangeable wheeled or float undercarriage, and a 450‑hp Pratt & Whitney R‑985 radial engine—gave it reliable performance from both carriers and seaplane bases. The Kingfisher could reach 164 mph, cruise at 115 mph, and had a range of roughly 850 mi, allowing extended patrols over oceanic expanses. Equipped with a flexible .30‑caliber machine gun, a shallow‑decked cockpit for excellent visibility, and the capacity to carry a rescue basket or a small bomb load, it proved versatile in reconnaissance, artillery spotting, anti‑submarine warfare, and air‑sea rescue missions. During World II the OS2U rescued dozens of downed airmen, most famously after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and operated in every major theater, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Its simple, durable design set a standard for naval utility aircraft and helped shape the development of later amphibious platforms such as the Grumman JRF‑5 Goose and the modern MH‑60 Seahawk.

Vought

Vought OS2U Kingfisher

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Production & History

Design & Classification