Bu.5985
Originally intended for use by the Netherlands East Indies.
Arrived in Australia April 1942 and received at Rathmines.
Into Service June 1942. Served with the Seaplane Training Flight, later 3 OTU and 107 Sqn in May 1943. Coded JE-B.
Flown to Lake Boga VIC August 1945 where the last 9 remaining Kingfishers were stored.
Sold in April 1947 to Mr Norman Padgett but not delivered.
Displayed at the Mildura Museum VIC and restored using other Kingfisher parts.
Displayed, partially restored, at the Malcolm Green Aircraft Museum, Whaleworld, Albany, WA in 2004.
In 2006 moved to Precision Aerospace at Wangaratta.
Now under going assessment prior to restoration to flying condition
Is the Kingfisher for sale?
No
How’s the progress going on the two Kingfishers? Haven’t seen any updates on them in a while.
Hi Dan, they are effectively in storage at this stage but we should be making a start this year.
I worked for a Iowa USA Farmer John “Bud” McCann in the 1970’s, he was a “Radar Man” on the USS Vicksburg, during the battle of Iwo Jima. He was in direct communication with the KingFishers operating off the rails for spotting. He described the different landings available at sea, dependent on conditions, and described a small turn made by the ship to flatten out a landing area to the “”net” for crane pick up and placement back on the rail. One landing Kingfisher got in rough water and was damaged, a new plane was on board the next day. The Captain ordered the damaged Aircraft sunk with the BOFORS guns. He made friends with a pilot, “Tex” a cowboy boot wearing Brown shoe who found a Japanese Zero on his tail, another Kingfisher from the Saratoga, I believe, was called in and got a surprise attack on the Zero and splashed it, to great celebration by the crews. Tex and his boots can be seen in the ships Cruise Book Pictures,
P.S.
I wanted to re tell that story, from the fighting Sailors who were there.
Hi
My name is Daryl Allen, I manage the Catalina Museum at Lake Boga, I am interested in the history and restoration of your Sikorsky Kingfisher and would like capture the rebuild of this project and display it in our museum if possible.
look forward to discussing it further
Daryl Allen
Manager
Flying Boat Museum
Lake Boga
+61 0488577872
Hello, I have a set of Kingfisher wing tip floats, in very good condition, no corrosion, on Gina paint on them. Looking for a buyer
I built wing tip floats for my N3N3 from scratch, and its a lot of work. there in Florida. get with me at dairyairline@ gmail.com
Sincerely
Don Larson
Dear people of Poineer Aero,
I heard that you have two Kingfisher’s is this correct? If so, what is the other identity? Many thank in advance for your answer!
Best regards,
Rob.
Details are on the website under projects
Good Morning, This post is dated in 2017. Is the Kingfisher information still correct? I am interested in the availability. Thanking you for your response I remain respectfully,
Ray Reinders
Reinders Aviation Service
1085 Chinquapin Ave.
Carlsbad, California 92008
951-522-0354
raynmn1@aol.com