Name this flying boat

[Fletch]

"H-16 with VP-4, Hawaii, 1930s" is all the information I have on this photo of a Navy patrol boat with officers and - I think - visiting dignitaries dressed in flight leathers for a ride.

A search for another pic reveals the a/c is clearly not a Curtiss H-16.

But what is it?

Also - is it possible the fellow in the white eyepatch at far left is WW1 correspondent and commentator Floyd Gibbons?

 

[Dixon Cannon]

That's the Curtis H-16 operated by the Coast Guard. Hope that helps!
Patrol Squadron FOUR has a long and distinguished history dating back to
pre-World War II. The first squadron designated Patrol Squadron FOUR
(VP-4) was established in 1928 and was based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

-dixon cannon

 

[DutchIndo]

Don't have a clue but I think the Props would be a bit disconcerting to the Pilots ! The guy with the eye patch isn't one of "Terry and the Pirates" is he ?

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Well, methinks I spoke too soon!:eusa_doh: I see that the engines are completely different on the above aircraft than the H-16 below. I'll continue my research and see what I can find! Very curious!

-dixon cannon

 

[Fletch]

Patrol Squadron FOUR has a long and distinguished history dating back to pre-World War II. The first squadron designated Patrol Squadron FOUR (VP-4) was established in 1928 and was based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Thanks for that Dixon - vpnavy.com does not acknowledge VP-4 that far back, only the current unit established in WW2.

If there were more info on the squadron it might include their aircraft types. I know a bunch of one-shot companies made boats for the Navy and Coast Guard during this time, so it's confusing to search for.

 

[up196]

Might I suggest. . .

Naval Aircraft Factory PN-12 1928 = Remotored PN-10. POP: 1 each with Cyclones and Hornets [A7383/7384]. Additionally 25 were built by Douglas as PD-1, 18 by Keystone as twin-tailed PK-1, and 30 PM-1 and 25 twin-tailed PM-2 by Martin.

The top of that big, square tail fin is visible just below the starboard engine in the original photo.

 

[Fletch]

I say that's it! Good shootin' there.

 

[up196]

After re-reading the description, I guess it's more likely that the one pictured in service is one of the 25 PD-1 versions built by Douglas or or of the 30 Martin PM-1 versions, the others having twin tails. It looks like there were only two experimental PN-12s used as a basis for the production versions.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

I'm throwing my bet in with the Short S.8 "Calcutta" which can be researched (with photo) here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_S.8_Calcutta I'll bet it's a visiting aircraft being hailed by the Yanks at Pearl!

Notice the PN-12 does NOT have a center engine mounted behind the cockpit, as does the example and the 'Calcutta'.

-dixon cannon

 

[up196]

Aircraft #11, Patrol Squadron 4, 14th Naval District

I have to politely disagree on the S.8. The subject plane is a 2 engine job, in fact it appears to be the 11th of 12 Douglas PD-1 aircraft received by VP-4D14 beginning February 28, 1930.

It carries the designation 4-P-11, as well as the Squadron's unofficial insignia of concentric circles around a 4-leaf clover, which a visiting foreign aircraft certainly would not have.

See the link below for more, including the Squadron history. VP-4, which was established on September 15, 1928 at NAS Pearl Harbor and was re-designated VP-22 in 1939.

Go to page 129, "First VP-22," to see a picture of an H-16 as well as one of two PD-1s in flight in March 1930, one of which is marked like the subject, but is aircraft #1 of the Squadron (4-P-1). There is also a photo of 4-P-6 taking off and an illustration of the Squadron insignia.

http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-vol2/chap3-4.pdf

Regards, Tom

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Well I will concede on this one! Can't argue with the facts! My choice was bolstered by that clover insignia which I was sure would prove to be a Short Bros. corporate logo of sorts. I guess I can quit searching for that now! Good work UP! :eusa_clap

-dixon cannon

 

[dr greg]

caught short

My father's first job was in the Short factory, working on Sunderlands, or more accurately running errands and cleaning up around those who actually built the things.

 

[Smithy]

working on Sunderlands

Fantastic aircraft Dr Greg, the Germans called them "flying porcupines".

There's a rather shabby (been outside too long) one at MOTAT in Auckland which is due for full restoration. Was having a good look around it a couple of years ago.

 

[Windsock]

Tim, if you're ever over at VLJ, David (Deeb) posted some great recent shots of MOTAT covering all the collection. It looks like a fantastic place to kill some time and I suspect they've done quite a bit of work on it all as the collection looks to be in pretty good nic.

 

[Smithy]

Tim, if you're ever over at VLJ, David (Deeb) posted some great recent shots of MOTAT covering all the collection. It looks like a fantastic place to kill some time and I suspect they've done quite a bit of work on it all as the collection looks to be in pretty good nic.

fftopic:

MOTAT is a great place to have a look around Andrew. They have some amazing bits of NZ's history. My Dad was always being hagged to take me there when I was a nipper.

The aviation section is great and the Lancaster is brilliantly displayed now. It used to live outside (!) like the Sunderland but has been restored and is displayed inside the large hangar.