Warplanes of the USA: Curtiss SOC Seagull

Curtiss SOC Seagull

(USN Photo)

USN Lieutenant Commander Lex L. Black, commanding officer of Auxiliars Scouting Squadron 1 (VGS-1), makes the 2000th landing on the escort carrier USS Long Island (AVG-1), 20 April 1942. He was flying a Curtiss SOC-3A Seagull. Note the lowered flaps and the deployed leading edge slats on the upper wing.

The Curtiss SOC Seagull was an American single-engined scout observation seaplane, designed by Alexander Solla of the Curtiss-Wright Corporation for the United States Navy. The aircraft served on battleships and cruisers in a seaplane configuration, being launched by catapult and recovered from a sea landing. The wings folded back against the fuselage for storage aboard ship. When based ashore or on carriers the single float was replaced by fixed wheeled landing gear.Curtiss delivered 258 SOC aircraft, in versions SOC-1 through SOC-4, beginning in 1935. The SOC-3 design was the basis of the Naval Aircraft Factory SON-1 variant, of which the NAF delivered 64 aircraft from 1940.The aircraft served as an important observation craft during WW2 for the U.S. Navy, although the Vought OS2U Kingfisher served in greater numbers.

The first ship the SOC was assigned to was the light cruiser USS Marblehead in November 1935; by the end of the decade, the SOC had replaced its predecessor throughout the fleet. Production came to an end in 1938. By 1941, most battleships had transitioned to the Vought OS2U Kingfisher and cruisers were expected to replace their aging SOCs with the third generation SO3C Seamew. The SO3C, however, suffered from a weak engine and plans to adopt it as a replacement were scrapped. The SOC, despite belonging to an earlier generation, went on to execute its missions of gunfire observation and limited range scouting missions.Through the first six months of naval service, the SOC was known as the XO3C-1. The designation was changed to SOC when it was decided to merge its scouting and observation roles.

The SOC was not called the Seagull until 1941, when the U.S. Navy began the wholesale adoption of popular names for aircraft in addition to their alpha-numeric designations. The name 'Seagull' had earlier been given to two civil Curtiss aircraft, a Curtiss Model 18 and a Model 25, both converted Curtiss MF flying boats.When operating as a seaplane, returning SOCs would land on the relatively smooth ocean surface created on the sheltered side of the vessel as it made a wide turn, after which the aircraft would be winched back onto the deck.When the SOC was replaced by the OS2U Kingfisher, most remaining airframes were converted into trainers; they remained in use until 1945. With the failure of the Curtiss SO3C Seamew, many SOCs in second line service were returned to frontline units starting in late 1943. They saw service aboard warships in the combat zone for the rest of the Second World War. This is one of the few instances in aviation history in which an older aircraft type, that was retired or sent to second line service, replaced the new aircraft type that was intended to replace it. In certain roles such as an observation aircraft for battleships, they served until 1949, and were eventually superseded by longer range radar and helicopters. (Wikipedia)

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-1 (BuNo. 9860) on its catapult on the Light Cruiser USS Concord at the Port of Oakland, California, in 1937.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-1s on the Light Cruiser USS Cincinnati at the Port of Oakland, California, in 1938.

(USN Photo)

Four U.S. Navy Curtiss SOC-3 Seagull scout-observation floatplanes, from the light cruiser USS Honolulu (CL-48) fly in formation, circa 1938-39. They are part of Cruiser Scouting Squadron 9 (VCS-9). The planes' BuNos are (from left to right): unidentified; 1073; 1175 (a SON-1 variant of the SOC-3); and 1087.

(City of Vancouver Archives Photo)

Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes on the USS Cincinnati at Vancouver, British Columbia, 1937.

(NMUSN Photo)

USS Tuscaloosa (CA 37) recovering a Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplane which had over-ridden the sea sled due to too rapid approach, slightly damaging one float, July 1943. Here the sled is spinning the plane around.

(USN Photo)

USN Curtiss SOC-3 Seagull scout-observation floatplane in flight, soon after delivery to Observation Squadron 2B (VO-2B), 1938. The plane was assigned to the battleship USS California (BB-44). Note the "Winged Pelican" VO-2 insignia on the aircraft, .30 caliber machine gun in its after cockpit and extended leading-edge slats on the upper wing.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-2, VCS-6.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-3 (BuNo. 1115), coded 4-0-9, VO-4, USS Maryland, Oakland, California, 1939.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-3 Seagull, SON-1 (BuNo. 1166), built by the Naval Aircraft Factory for use on battleships and cruisers.  This Seagull was assigned to Observation Squadron Three on the battleship USS Mississippi.  Photo taken at Oakland, California, Feb 1940.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-1 (BuNo. 9866), from the cruiser USS Louisville, Oakland, California, July 1941.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-1 (BuNo. 9877), Command, Admiral Blue at NRAB Oakland in July 1939.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Curtiss SOC-3 (BuNo. 1079), all-blue Command plane for the Commander in Chief of the U. S. Fleet in the Oakland Airport Lagoon in June 1939.

(USN Photo)

Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplane flies over Wotje Atoll, during the attack on the Japanese airfield there by gunfire from USS Salt Lake City (CA-25) and USS Northampton (CA-26) and fighters from USS Enterprise (CV-6), 1 February 1942.

(USN Photo)

Curtiss SOC-1 Seagull scout-observation aircraft (BuNo 9979) in flight, 2 July 1939.

(USN Photo)

USN Curtiss SOC-1 Seagull (BuNo 9986) of Cruiser Scouting Squadron 4 in flight over Hawaii before the Second World War.

(USN Photo)

USN Curtiss SOC Seagull scout-observation aircraft is lowered onto the port catapult of the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis (CA-36), after it returned from spotting gunfire during the 5 October bombardment of Wake Island. Note the message capsule that has just been tossed out by the plane's observer.

(USN Photo)

USS Mississippi (BB-41) operating at sea during the later 1930s.  She has three Curtiss SOC Seagull aircraft on her catapults.

(NMNA Photo)

The U.S. Navy Gato-class submarine USS Harder (SS-257) during the rescue of Ens. John R. Galvin off Woleai Atoll. The Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplane attempted to aid in the rescue but actually parted the line by which the aviator and three submariners that came to his rescue should have been pulled from the surf! The rescue was later successful using a new line. Galvin was a pilot assigned to Fighting Squadron VF-8 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17). Galvin had left his formation to strafe a Mitsubishi G4M1 bomber on Falalop, but his Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat (BuNo 40695) was hit by flak and he had to bail out circa 8 km north of Taugalap.

(NMUSN Photo)

USS St. Louis (CL 49) with SOC-3’s on catapult while at the Tulagi harbor. Seen from USS O’Bannon (DD 450) after the Battle of Kula Gulf,5-6 July 1943.

(USN Photo)

USN Curtiss SOC-1 Seagull taxies out for a local flight over Antarctic waters on 8 January 1947 from the seaplane tender USS Currituck (AV-7). Note the radioman atop fuselage, probably securing the hoisting sling as the plane had just been hoisted over the side of the seaplane tender for flight operations.

(NMNA Photo)

U.S. Coast Guard Curtiss SOC-4 Seagull at Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Floyd Bennett Field, New York. The U.S. Coast Guard acquired the final three SOC-3 Seagulls produced by Curtiss in 1938 and these were designated as SOC-4s. They were assigned the USCG call numbers V171, V172, and V173 (BuNo 48243, 48244, 48245, respectively). All three were transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1942, which redesignated them SOC-3A.

(USCG Photo)

The U.S. Coast Guard acquired the final three SOC-3 Seagulls produced by Curtiss in 1938 and these were designated as SOC-4s. They were assigned the USCG call numbers V171, V172, and V173 (BuNo 48243, 48244, 48245, respectively). All three were transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1942, which redesignated them SOC-3A.