First flown in March 1938 as a replacement for Vought's own Kingfisher as a shipbased observation and spotting aircraft, the OS2U Kingfisher would see service throughout WWII both in its intended role, and in the antisubmarine and rescue roles. Although the Kingfisher could be flown as a landplane, it was generally employed as a floatplane, being catapult launched from cruisers and battleships.
Review: Al Adcock, OS2U Kingfisher in action Squadron/Signal Publications, 1991 Highlights:
- Several photos, a side view diagram, and a color profile of the XOS2U-1 prototype -1 Kingfisher 3-view and specifications Cockpit and observer compartment photos OS2U-3 3-view Frontal shot of a VS-68 aircraft locally modified in-theater with extended wingtips Several pages of photos detailing the XSO2U-1 prototype
Bibliography:
"Spot Welded Airplane" Aviation July 1939 p.54 includes two views of XOS2U-1 0951
Photo: side-view of the XOS2U-1 prototype Popular Aviation August 1939 p.48
Vought-Sikorsky ad, showing a line of Kingfisher forward fuselages Aviation October 1940 p.20
Röhm & Haas Company ad, with a close-up in flight view of a Kingfisher in landplane configuration Aviation February 1941 p.195
Photo: Nine landplane-configured Kingfishers in formation Aviation News November 29, 1943 p.3
"Kingfishers Catch a Big One!" Edo Float Gear ad with artwork depicting a pair of OS2Us bombing a Japanese submarine. Aviation April 1944 p.15
Edo Aircraft Corporation ad, with a front quarter shot of a Kingfisher on a catapult Aviation October 1944 p.15
Photo: bomb-armed Kingfisher on a catapult Flying May 1945 front cover
"always Closer to Nippon" ad for Edo float gear, depicting a Kingfisher being launched from a cruiser Flying August 1945 p.5
Rick Leon "Semper Fi and the Kingfish" Scale Modeler May 1969 Building the 1/72 Airfix Kingfisher kit - includes color profiles, one being a prewar aircraft with wheels.
Alan W. Hall "Vought Kingfisher" Airfix Magazine December 1972 Includes a 3-view with cross sections of a Fleet Air Arm aircraft, side views of XOS2U-1, OS2U-2s, and an RAAF OS2U-3.
Gary Hatcher "Fishers of Men - Modelling the Airfix Kingfisher" Building the OS2U kit as aircraft FN718 of the Fleet Air Arm Scale Aviation Modeller International September 2000
David Mondey The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II p.243-244 color profiles of a Dutch OS2U-3, RAAF Kingfisher Mk.Is A48-4 and A48-9, postwar A48-13 in a high visibility scheme.
Robert Lawson, Barrett Tillman Carrier Air War in Original WWII Color p.21 large color photo of Battleship Division 3 Kingfishers in prewar high-visibility colors
Jim Winchester Classic Military Aircraft: The World's Fighting Aircraft 1914-1945 p.427: color profile of RAAF Kingfisher Mk I A48-4
Robert Lawson, Barrett Tillman Carrier Air War in Original WWII Color p.21: large photo of Battleship Division 3 Kingfishers in prewar high visibility colors
Peter M. Bowers Scale Aircraft Drawings Vol II - World War II Air Age Publishing, 1991 Kingfisher 3-view drawing with paint & marking detail
