INDEX OF NAVAL AIRCRAFT

Curtiss SO3C-1 Seamew

Fleet Air Arm Seamew I - FN475

History

The Curtiss SO3C-1 Seamew was a two-seat reconnaissance aircraft developed by the US Navy and were sold to Great Britain under Lend-Lease. It was originally called the Seagull in the States but following the naming of the "Seamew" by the FAA it was later also adopted by the USN. The original SO3C-2 Lend-Lease version delivered to the FAA had additional bomb rack under fuselage and arrester gear as well as other refinements over USN versions. The next version was the Seamew 1, the FAA equivalent of SO3-2C. 250 lend-lease aircraft were ordered for the FAA.

While the Seamew was intended for catapult launch on the Royal Navy's ships, it never saw operational service. Many of the first aircraft were initially transferred from Roosevelt Field in March 1943 to TOC 1 NAGS Yarmouth and on to the RN January 1944 for shipping amongst others to Worthy Down. Since the type was not a great success it was declared obsolete and scrapped from September 1944 onwards. The aircraft was relegated to second line squadron usage and the majority of the aircraft were used to train TAG's in Canada. The last aircraft in the RN served until 1945.

In addition to the Curtiss SO3C-1 Seamew there was the Queen Seamew, which was the FAA equivalent of SO3-1K; 30 were ordered under lend-lease. Ordered under Requisition No. BAC/N-1-857. Cancelled. Intended delivery of 30 target drone conversions never materialised.Remaining at Roosevelt Field, before converstion to RN Queen Seamews.

    Fleet Air Arm history
        Seamew SO3C-2C
        Total FAA 1939-1945               250
        First delivered to RN:                3.1943
        First squadron 1939-1945:          8.1943 755 sqdn
        Operational squadron:                None
        Last served with RN                 1945
Total 250 Ordered from USA under contract No. LL76800 and requisition No. 2850
First RN:     TOC 1 NAGS Yarmouth 3. 43 (FN480). 5.43 to C sqdn A&AEE for performance evaluation (FN475).
Sqdn:           8.43 755 sqdn at Worthy Down (FN459)
Main sqdn    755 sqdn at Worthy Down
Op sqdn:      were to equip 850 sqdn at Quonset Point but none were received - sqdn disbanded.

Aircraft Type:	Curtiss SO3C-1 Seamew
Mark:	-
Primary Role:	reconnaissance aircraft/Scout/patrol floatplane
First Flight:	6 October 1939
Date operating with FAA squadrons:	Entered Service: July 1942
Manufacturer:	Curtiss
Engine:	520 hp Ranger SGV-770-6 engine
Wing Span: Length: Height: Wing Area:	Wingspan 11.58m Length 10.59m Height 4.32m Wing Area 27.22 sq m
Empty Weight: Max.Weight:	Empty Weight 2266kg Maximum Take Off Weight 3175kg
Speed: Ceiling: Range:	Maximum speed 190 mph (Seaplane). 241 km/hr at sea level Cruise 188km/hr Service Ceiling 5029m Range 1512km endurance 8 hours
Armament:	One fixed forward 0.3in machine gun (in cowl), one one swivel mounted .30 cal in rear cockpit 2 100 lb or 325lb depth-bombs underwing or 500lb bomb under fuselage
Crew:	2
Squadrons:	744 and 745 Squadrons based at Nova Scotia, Canada, and 755 Squadron based at Worthy-Down, Hampshire, UK.
Battle honours:
Additional references and notes:	-

Battle Honours and Operational History
None with the Fleet Air Arm

Surviving aircraft and relics

No information - believed extinct

Associations and reunions
No Information

FURTHER INFORMATION
	Sturtivant, R. & Burrow, M (1995) 'Fleet Air Arm Aircraft 1939 to 1945' Published by Air Britain (Historians) Ltd, 1995 ISBN: 085130 232 7

Created 3-4-1999, Modified 3-4-2000

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