Kingfisher Mk.I RAAF Antarctic

A little history from the Australian Navy site.
navy.gov.au/aircraft/vought-os2u-kingfisher 

In late 1947 Kingfisher A18-13 was allocated to the RAAF Antarctic Flight for embarkation in the expedition vessel HMAS Wyatt Earp that was to conduct an expedition to the Antarctic in 1948. The aircraft was flown from Lake Boga to Point Cook, Victoria where a pre-heater for the engine was fitted and it was painted yellow overall. During 17-18 December 1947 the Kingfisher was embarked in Wyatt Earp then alongside at Nelson Pier in Williamstown, Victoria.  

 

 

 

An eyewitness report stated – ‘While we were in Melbourne the aircraft was placed on board. It was a monoplane with a large single float mounted below the fuselage. In its assembled form it stood too high to be safely transported on deck, so it was dismounted from the float and the aircraft and float were stowed in separate cradles on the (forward) deck’. The pilot, Squadron Leader Robin Henry Gray, DFC and aircraft fitter Flight-Sergeant Norman ‘Spike’ Jones were embarked to operate the aircraft. 

In 21 February the Kingfisher was prepared for flight which required much effort to attach her large central float. This was completed after five hours of hard work and she was now stored on deck ready for use. The chief scientist on board lamented the effort required and later reported – ‘I made a mistake in selecting this type of aircraft for this ship, as she is far too big for us to handle comfortably. What is needed is a small aircraft that can be kept ready for flight at short notice’. The other issue with the aircraft was starting the engine in such cold conditions and it was not until 26/27 February that the engine was able to be started after operating the pre-heater for 24 hours.  

Finally while operating off the Ninnis Tongue Glacier on 13 March 1948 the Kingfisher was craned off in calm water and conducted its test flight with Flight-Sergeant Jones as the first passenger. On the second flight that day the expedition photographer, Laurie le Guay, was embarked. The aircraft radio communications system was tested and worked well and sightings of thick icebergs and pack ice for many miles was noted. Again the ships embarked scientists agreed that while an aircraft was required for Antarctic research the Kingfisher was too large and cumbersome for use from a vessel the size of Wyatt Earp. 

 

More story about the expedition.
navy.gov.au/hmas-wyatt-earp 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do they look alike? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have to restore various damages due to long storage. 

The new workshop should perhaps be named "Frankenstein". I used parts from two desks, a bed and a bookcase to make it. One part of the tabletop is probably deeper than is comfortable, but I can always cut it by 10 centimeters. 

 

 

 

I can't help but brag 🙂 

 

The paint is ready. 

The paint is ready. 

The paint is ready.