Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 70301 USS Indianapolis (CA-35) Ties up to a wharf at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as she arrives at the city to make the first stop of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's South American cruise, 27 November 1936. A SOC floatplane, of Scouting Squadron Eleven (VS-11), is in the foreground, parked atop the cruiser's starboard catapult. Donation of Captain Fred W. Connor, USMC (Retired), 1970. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 83KB; 740 x 460 pixels
Photo #: NH 80513 USS California (BB-44) View looking aft from inside a Curtiss SOC-3 floatplane atop the turret # 3 catapult, 1938, showing two more SOC-3s parked on the after catapult. Courtesy of Howard F. Ailes, 1974. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 80KB; 740 x 415 pixels
Photo #: NH 68890 Curtiss SOC-3 scout-observation floatplanes (Bureau #s 1077, at center, and probably 1076, to the right) Parked on the after catapult of USS Tennessee (BB-43), circa 1938. These aircraft belong to Observation Squadron Two (VO-2B), whose insignia is painted on the fuselage below the upper wing. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 38KB; 740 x 450 pixels
Photo #: NH 68891 USS Tennessee (BB-43) In harbor, circa 1938. Two SOC-3 floatplanes, of Observation Squadron Two (VO-2B), are parked on the battleship's after catapult. A third is atop gun turret # 3. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 61KB; 740 x 455 pixels
Photo #: NH 83900 USS Idaho (BB-42) Ship's company posed on the after deck and after 14" gun turrets, circa 1938. Note Curtiss SOC-3 "Seagull" floatplanes, of Observation Squadron Three, atop the Turret # 3 catapult and on deck to port of the turrets. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Vice Admiral Alexander Sharp, USN. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 128KB; 740 x 580 pixels
Photo #: NH 85630 Curtiss SOC-3 scout-observation floatplane Stripped for maintenance in the hangar of USS Savannah (CL-42), circa 1938. The plane's engine is a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 nine-cylinder radial. Courtesy of Louis A. Davison, 1977. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 73KB; 570 x 675 pixels
Photo #: NH 83577 Cruiser Division Seven's South American Cruise, 1939 A local military official tours USS San Francisco (CA-38), as the cruiser visits a South American port. Commander Cruiser Division 7, Rear Admiral Husband E. Kimmel, USN, is at right, behind the Chief Petty Officer who has his back to the camera. Two Curtiss SOC floatplanes are inside the hangar. The more distant plane, with tail visible, is Bureau # 9957, a SOC-1. Courtesy of the Naval Historical Foundation. Collection of Rear Admiral Paul H. Bastedo. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 81KB; 740 x 575 pixels
Photo #: NH 80516 USS California (BB-44) Liberty party prepares to go ashore, 1940. Note very large letters "CAL" painted on the whaleboat at left. Three Curtiss SOC-3 floatplanes are visible, parked atop the turret # 3 catapult and on the after catapult. The aircraft with the dark fuselage is the "Flag Plane" of Commander, Battle Force, U.S. Fleet. Its color scheme was dark blue and silver. Boat in the foreground is from USS Detroit (CL-8). Courtesy of Howard F. Ailes, 1974. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 78KB; 740 x 465 pixels
Photo #: 80-G-1017209 USS Patoka (AV-6) Off the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, 16 January 1940. Note SOC floatplane amidships, with its wings folded. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives. Online Image: 82KB; 740 x 600 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.
Photo #: NH 43586 USS Patoka (AV-6) At Balboa, Panama Canal Zone, 11 February 1940. She is dressed with flags in honor of George Washington's Birthday, and carries a pair of Curtiss SOC floatplanes on deck amidships. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 605 pixels
Photo #: NH 50303 USS New York (BB-34) Midshipmen and Sailors boarding a 50-foot motor launch, during the summer 1940 Naval Academy Midshipmen's cruise. Note whaleboat on the midships' davits and Curtiss SOC-3 aircraft of Observation Squadron Five (VO-5) on deck and atop the catapult. The plane at right appears to be Bureau # 1090. U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph. Online Image: 134KB; 740 x 595 pixels

For views of SOC floatplanes on board ship in 1942 and later, see:

Curtiss SOC Scout-Observation Floatplanes -- On Board Ship (Part II)

For additional views of SOC aircraft, see:

Curtiss SOC "Seagull" Scout-Observation Planes.

NOTES:

To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

Page made 21 April 2001
Coding updated 7 May 2009