Canadian Warplanes 1: Canadian Car & Foundry (Grumman) Goblin

Canadian Car & Foundry (Grumman) Goblin

(RCAF Photo)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblins, No. 118 (Fighter) Squadron, RCAF, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1941.

The Grumman FF "Fifi" (company designation G-5) was an American biplane fighter flown by the United States Navy during the 1930s.  It was the first carrier aircraft with retractable landing gear.  It was produced under licence in Canada and known as the Goblin in Canadian service and Delfin ("Dolphin") in Spanish service.  (Wikipedia)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin Mk. I (15), (Serial Nos. 334-348).

The Canadian Car & Foundry Company acquired a manufacturing licence for the Grumman G-23, and improved FF-1, of which it completed a total of 52, some of which were assembled from US-built components.  Although initially rejected as a fighter by the RCAF as outdated and too slow, with the advent of war, the last 15 of the CC&F production batch were taken on strength as the Goblin I.  The aircraft type served with the RCAF from 17 September 1940 until 21 April 1942.  "A" Flight of No. 118 RCAF Squadron was equipped with Goblins at Rockcliffe in Ottawa, and subsequently became No. 118 (Fighter) Squadron, later stationed at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia where the Goblins for a time constituted the sole fighter force on the east coast.  One CCF-built G-23 was sold to the Nicaraguan government where is saw limited service before being relegated to a scrap yard at Zololtan Air Field in 1942, destined to remain there until 1961 when it was purchased and shipped to the USA.  In 1966, Grumman restored the aircraft before passing it to the US Navy where it is currently on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3583639)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, RCAF (Serial No. 335), RCAF Station Trenton, Ontario, 23 May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PL1948)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, RCAF (Serial No. 342), ca 1941.  One is preserved in the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581769)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, with three RCAF airmen, 16 May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PL5954)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblins, No. 118 Squadron, RCAF, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PL5956)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblins, No. 118 Squadron, RCAF, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PL5961)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblins, No. 118 Squadron, RCAF, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, PL5957)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblins, No. 118 Squadron, RCAF, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, 1941.

No. 118 Squadron flew Goblins at RCAF Station Dartmouth from Dec. 1940 to Dec. 1941 to provide air defence for Halifax's strategic harbour. While at Dartmouth 118 Squadron Goblins were identified by the Squadron letters "RE" painted on the sides of the fuselage.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3616061)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, RCAF, cockpit.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581777)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, Airman conducting maintenance, 19 May 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3616063)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, RCAF (Serial No. 339), gear up belly landing, 12 July 1941. No. 118 (F) Squadron aircraft. The accident took place at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, where the squadron was based. (Chris Charland)

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3616062)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, RCAF (Serial No. 339), gear up belly landing, 12 July 1941.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3577562)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, (Serial No. 348), 1940.

(Sgt (later S/L) Jack Beirnes DFC & Bar Photo via Francois Dutil)

Canadian Car & Foundry G-23 Goblin, RCAF (Serial No. 338), No. 118 Squadron, RCAF.

(SDA&SM Photo)

Canadian Car and Foundry G-23, Spain, 1939.

(Greg Goebel Photo)

Grumman FF-1 (Canadian Car & Foundry) G23 Goblin Mk. I (Serial No. 9351), c/n 101, 5-F-1.  National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola NAS, Florida.

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