Canadian Warplanes 3: Curtiss SB2C Helldivers made in Canada

Curtiss SB2C Helldivers made in Canada

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Fairchild SBF-4E Helldiver (BuNo 31895) at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, 17 December 1945. Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. at Longueuil, Quebec (Canada), a subsidiary of Fairchild Aircraft, built 300 Curtiss SB2C Helldivers under licence, 100 being SB2C-4E.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197977)

Curtiss SBW1 Helldiver, ca 1944.  The Curtiss SBW1 Helldiver, Canadian built version of the SB2C-1.  38 were built by the Canadian Car & Foundry company at Fort William, Ontario during the war for the US Navy. None were in service with the RCAF.

SBF-1 Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 50 built by Fairchild-Canada. SBF-3 Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 150 built by Fairchild-Canada. SBF-4E Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 100 built by Fairchild-Canada. SBW-1 Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 38 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company. SBW-1B Canadian built version for lend-lease to the Royal Navy as the Helldiver I, 28 aircraft built by Canadian Car & Foundry company. SBW-3 Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 413 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company. SBW-4E Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 270 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company. SBW-5 Canadian-built version of the SB2C-5, 85 built (165 cancelled) by the Canadian Car & Foundry company.

The Royal Navy recieved the Curtis Model 84 Helldiver MK. I (U.S. Navy SBW-1B) built by Canadian Car & Foundry through Lend-Lease Requisition Number N-5 and Contract Number NXs-LL-39. The U. S. serials were 60010, 21201 and 212203 (3 aircraft) // 60013-60035 (24 aircraft). The British serial numbers were JW100 - JW125.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197980)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver, overhead view of male and female workers assembling the aircraft on the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd. production floor, Fort William, Ontario.  Eventually, 834 Helldivers were produced by CC&F in various versions from SBW-1, SBW-1B, SBW-3,SBW-4E and SBW-5.  Some of the Curtiss dive bombers were sent directly to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease arrangements.  CC&F also built the North American AT-6 Texan/Harvard under licence.

In 1939, Canadian Car & Foundry and its Chief Engineer, Elsie MacGill, were contracted by the Royal Air Force to produce the Hawker Hurricane (Marks X, XI and XII).  Refinements introduced by MacGill on the Hurricane included skis and de-icing gear.  When the production of the Hurricane was complete in 1943, CC&F's workforce of 4,500 (half of them women) had built over 1,400 aircraft, about 10% of all Hurricanes built.

Helldivers were also built by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd, designated SBF. The CCF Helldivers were designated SBW. Approximately 7,139 Helldivers were built.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197979)

Workmen assembling the nose of a Curtiss SB2C1 "Helldiver" aircraft on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd., c1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197984)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft almost complte, on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197981)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft almost complete, on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194721)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft, on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd.

(Archives of Ontario Photo, I0002978)

Curtiss SBW-1 Helldiver, Canadian Car & Foundry, Fort William, Ontario, 29 July 1943.

(RN Photo)

Curtiss SBW-1B Helldiver, RN (Serial No. JW117).

(RN Photo)

Curtiss SBW-1B Helldiver, RN (Serial No. JW117).

A total of 26 aircraft, out of 450 ordered, were delivered to the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm, where they were known as the Helldiver I. After unsatisfactory tests by the A&AEE that pinpointed "appalling handling", none of the British Helldivers were used in action. (Wikipedia)

(NMNA Photo)

Curtiss SBW-4E Helldiver, New York Naval Reserve, USN (BuNo. V60166).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194722)

USN insignia with an RN serial on a "made in Canada" Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft on the production line at Canadian Car & Foundry Co. Ltd, Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, c1944. CC&F sought out and received a production order for the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Eventually, 834 Helldivers were produced by CC&F in various versions from SBW-1, SBW-1B, SBW-3,SBW-4E and SBW-5. Some of the Curtiss divebombers were sent directly to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease arrangements.

Designations

SBF-1 Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 50 built by Fairchild-Canada.

‍SBF-3 Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 150 built by Fairchild-Canada.

‍SBF-4E Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 100 built by Fairchild-Canada.

‍SBW-1 Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 38 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.

‍SBW-1B Canadian built version for lend-lease to the RN as the Helldiver I, 28 aircraft built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.

‍SBW-3 Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 413 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.

‍SBW-4E Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 270 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company.

SBW-5 Canadian-built version of the SB2C-5, 85 built (165 cancelled) by the Canadian Car & Foundry company.‍

Helldiver I Royal Navy designation for 28 Canadian-built SBW-1Bs.

(USN Photo)

A Navy Curtiss Helldiver (SB2C) is snapped against the background provided by its carrier as it returns from a strike at Jap shipping. Far below other planes are being spotted on the flight deck to which the SB2C will soon return.

(CCF Photo)

Canadian-built SBW. Canadian Car & Foundry built nearly a thousand of them at their factory in Fort William, Ontario.