Seamews at HMS Kestrel

**Bill Walker** · 5th March 2010, 00:27

I hope Ross will allow an FAA question.

I'm trying to trace the subsequent fates of the Curtiss Seamews that transferred from the RCAF to the UK in early 1944 (FN480 to FN642, with gaps). Griffin's first book lists them as going to the RN at Worthy Down, which was HMS Kestrel by then. Does anybody know if they just passed through there, or did they stay with a training squadron there?

**highgroundsman** · 5th March 2010, 09:30

Hi Bill,

Looked in Ray Sturtivant`s FAA Aircraft 1939-45 book, not a great deal I`m afraid, here is what it says:

FN480 TOC 1 NAGS at Yarmouth 11/3/43 to RN 9/2/44 shipped to UK for Worthy Down
SS.

FN642 TOC 1 NAGS at Yarmouth 12/4/43 To RN 28/1/44 shipped to UK for Worthy
Down SS.

So perhaps they just remained at the Storage Section until being struck off at the end of the war?

Regards
Dave.

**Bill Walker** · 5th March 2010, 12:56

Thanks for that Dave, Griffin did not mention SS for these aircraft.

Robertson's serial books shows only about 6 of the 71 ex RCAF aircraft being TOS by the RN. You may be right about the rest. They were very unpopular in the RCAF, with low availability, so maybe the RN didn't bother to unpack them.