37 built 1927-35 The CANT 25 was a single-engine biplane seaplane developed by the aeronautical division of the Italian company Cantieri Riuniti dell’Adriatico (CRDA CANT). It made its maiden flight in 1927 but was only accepted in 1938. With 38 built in an amphibious and catapulted versions, it became the Adriatic shipyard’s first success. The … Read more
Supermarine Seagull (1921) RNAS/FAA 30 built. The Supermarine Seagull was a flying boat produced developed by Supermarine’s chief designer R.J. Mitchell, from the experimental Supermarine Seal II in 1920. In June 1921 the Seagull was evaluated but rejected, but was further developed as a private venture. In February 1922 this time it impressed the air … Read more
Target Tug Floatplane (1935), 4 built The Letov Š-328V was a variant of the Letov Š-28 2-seat general purpose reconnaissance biplane of the Czechoslovak Air Force in 1938. Designed and manufactured by Letov Kbely in Prague, it first flew in 1929, and started service in 1934, with 470 in all variants, Š-328V floatplane being the … Read more
20 built, 3 versions 1932-35. Lost 1939. The Lublin R.XIII hydro (1931) was a floatplane derived from the Lublin R.XIII, a popular multirole Polish parasol cooperation monoplane used for observation and liaison. It was designed in 1930, first flew in 1931, was ordered and built at the Plage i Laśkiewicz factory in Lublin. 273 were … Read more
FAA, 2,602 built 1942-45 The Fairey Barracuda was a British torpedo and dive bomber used during World War II. It was designed and built by the Fairey Aviation Company and served primarily with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. The Barracuda entered service in 1943 and saw action in various theaters of the war, including … Read more
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver (1942) US Navy Dive Bomber (1943-45), 7,140 built The Curtiss SB2C and its “bad rep” A bit like Brewster products, the Buffalo and Buccaneer, the 1942 Helldiver suffered from a poor reputation. The Curtiss A-25 Shrike dive bomber was developed as a carrier-based bomber, intended for supplementing, and replacing the Douglas SBD … Read more
Yokosuka D4Y Suisei “Judy” (1942) Imperial Japanese Navy, 1,085 built Design development The Yokosuka deserves attention not only because it is considered one of the most beautiful aircraft of the Second World War but also because of her heavy burden: Replacing the legendary Aichi D3A “Val” in service with the IJN since 1939. The famous … Read more
FAA 1941-44: circa 800 built/converted. The salty variant of the Hurricane The Hawker Hurricane was the second main fighter of the RAF in WW2. Since the Spitfire soon became the trusted frontline model, Hawker’s model took more diverse roles and of of these became an “expandable” model for CAM-ships, the catapulted “Hurricat”. From there, a … Read more
The one and only German carrier-borne naval fighter Luftwaffe for the Kriegsmarine – Naval Fighter, 17 built (1941-42) The Messerschmitt Me 109 was one of the two attempts of the Luftwaffe to design a naval fighter, the after the Arado Ar 197. They were part of the Kriegsmarine Plan Z approved by Hitler in 1936, … Read more
Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger (1941) US Navy torpedo-bomber (1941-1968), 9,839 built The well named “avenger”, Juggernaut of retribution The Grumman TBF Avenger is the well-remembered, massive WW2 US Navy torpedo bomber of the USN. It was also at the time the largest and heaviest single-engine aircraft of the war. It forged an enviable reputation as the … Read more
