The Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk was
designed to meet the need for a reconnaissance seaplane that could be
launched from US Navy battleships and cruisers. Designed as a
single-seat aircraft the SC-1 could theoretically hold its'
own against enemy fighters.
The SC-1 was the last of the scout observation types and was the most
highly developed with vastly improved performance over earlier types.
Power, range and armament had doubled its usefulness. It was highly
maneuverable, had two forward firing .50 cal. guns,
large flaps and automatic leading edge slats for improved slow speed
characteristics, and radar carried on the underside of the starboard
wing proved highly successful during search missions. Space needed
aboard ship was minimized by folding the wings back manually, making
the overall width equal to the span of the horizontal tail surfaces.
Built in Columbus, Ohio, the SC-1 was initially fitted out with a fixed
wheel undercarriage, then was ferried to Naval bases, where floats were
attached.
The SC-1 was liked by some pilots and disliked by others, but
generally well accepted. It could out-climb an F6F "Hellcat" to 6,000
ft. and out-turn the F8F "Bearcat".
Losses with the "Seahawk" were high, caused mostly by the extremely
hazardous conditions in which they operated. With too hard a water
landing the engine would drop, the propeller cutting through the float.
Several mishaps occurred due to a faulty auto-pilot system. Aircraft
and pilots were lost due to unknown landing accidents. It wasn't until
one pilot "walked away", that it was discovered that the auto-pilot was
taking over on landings. As a result, all automatic pilot systems were
made inoperative on all SC's. (For more information see U.S.S. Little
Rock "Collision at Sea and other Underway Hazards"
page.)
During the height of their career, crews aboard ship looked with
pleasure at the "Seahawks" aft on the catapults as their "Quarterdeck
Messerschmitts".
The SC-1 first flew in February 1944 and 950 were
ordered, later decreased to 566 because of the Victory in the
Pacific. It continued in service for a number of years after the
war as trainers, eventually being replaced by helicopters.
Specifications
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Paint Scheme: Post Jan
1943
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Crew:
Speed - Cruise:
Speed - Max:
Range:
Ceiling:
Engine:
Horse Power:
Length:
Height:
Wingspan:
Wing area:
Wing load:
Weight:
Take off wt:
Armament:
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1
130 mph
315 mph
625 mi
37,300 ft
Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone 9
1350 hp
36' 5"
17'
41'
280 sq.ft.
32.19 lbs/ft2
7240 lbs..
9000 lbs..
2 - 50 cal. Machine Guns,
1 - 650 lb. Bomb
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Upper surfaces: Non-specular
Sea Blue (#35042).
Mid surfaces: Non-specular Intermediate Blue (#35164).
Lower surfaces: Non-specular Insignia White (#37875)
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Paint
Scheme: 1947
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Overall
glossy Seablue (# 15042),
with white numbers and letters & red bar
in U.S. insignia in four positions.
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Curtiss SC-1 Pre-Flight, Launch and Recovery Photos
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SC-1 on catapult with wings extended.
(Note tie-down gear.)
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Pre-launch briefing ?
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Pre-launch preparations
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SC-1 just prior to leaving catapult
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Curtiss SC-1 in flight
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SC-1 landing
Official US Navy Photo
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SC-1 taxi-ing in smooth water
Official US Navy Photo
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Making a rough water approach alongside USS Alaska
Official US Navy Photo K3725
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An SC-1 approaching towed sled
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SC-1 on sled alongside USS Alaska (Engine is
stopped.)
Official US Navy Photo K3747
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On the sled. Preparing for recovery
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SC-1 being hoisted by ship's crane
(USS Wilkes-Barre CL-103)
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SC-1 stowed on launcher with wings folded.
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Photos Of SC1's On the USS Little Rock
(Click on photo to enlarge)
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USS Little Rock SC-1
taxis alongside for pick-up
(Photo from Arkansas Traveller)
Walde Lindemann Photos
Walde Lindemann
in SC1 cockpit
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Walde Lindemann
on SC1 wing.
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USS Little Rock CL-92
pilot with crew
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Walde Lindemann
on catapult
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SC1 on Catapult
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Victor Division
(Click photo to see names.)
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Walde Lindemann with his
scratch-built model of SC1
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Walt
Nebiker Photos
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SC1 being retrieved
by ship's crane
SC1 on catapult while CL92
is moored pierside in Venice.
Note that plane's port wing
is in stowed position.
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SC1 making approach to
towed sled. Note extended catapult with crew member directing approach
and
ship's wake used to
smooth seas.
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SC1 on port catapult
secured (hopefully) for
heavy weather!
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Ens. Logan on float of his SC-1
Motor Whale Boat from ship prepares to tow
SC-1.
Ens. Logan is standing
on SC-1 float.
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The men who flew Little
Rock's SC-1's
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• Fitzpatrick,
Charles R. "Charlie", Lt(jg) (See photo below)
• Frank, Jules ("Senior Aviator) (See Schultz)
• Hoffman, B.F., LTjg/LT (See "Arkansas
Traveler" 09 Jul 47, 17 Sep 47)
• Logan, Ens. (See Nebiker photos above)
• Merriman, W.R. Ens (See Breslin)
• Sandoval, E.E., LT (See "Arkansas Traveler" 17 Sep 47)
• Smith, H.L., Ens. (See "Arkansas Traveler" 09 Jul 47)
The above photo, in the 1945-1949 Cruise Book, reads
"Lieutenant Fitzpatrick (left)
who died in the line of duty."
After extensive research we have learned that Lt(jg) Fitzpatrick died
in a crash of his SC-1
on New Year's Eve day 1946 off the coast of Rehoboth Beach, New Jersey
(For more info see "Accidents,
Collisions and other Underway Hazards" page
Crew Recollections:
From: Al Yoder,
FC2C,
1946-1949
I don't remember Lt. Fitzpatrick being killed. I have the names of two
other pilots, Lt. B.F. Hoffman & Lt. E.E. Sandoval. These two
got lost and landed on the calm ocean off Newport. I think I remember
they
were located somehow and the Destroyers and Little Rock took off at
high
speed. The impressive thing was that after an hour the Rock passed all
the Destroyers and arrived at the downed aircraft, & recovered
them.
I don't know any other details."
20 Jun 08
From: John Brelin, S1/C 1945-46
.... from my "Air, Aft" lookout post behind the highest aft director, I
witnessed and described, (on SP phone), our only complete aircraft loss
during my time aboard. Ensign W. R. Merryman was landing one of
our scout planes south of Cuba, on the smoothed-over water surface our
ship
always created for landings, by making a slowed-down sliding
turn. As Ens. Merryman was taxiing up towards our towed recovery
netted sled, his
plane suddenly nosed over, engine still turning and tail straight up in
the air. The pilot was pitched forward out of his cockpit, into a
bright,
clear sea, teeming with hundreds of visible sharks. I reported
the
sharks immediately on my SP phone, but they were also clearly visible
from
all parts of our ship. The OD immediately ordered the rescue
whaleboat's crew not to enter the water, but when the swimming pilot
was not able to grasp
the boathook, my buddy and bunk-neighbor, (whose rack was directly
across
the aisle), immediately dove over his bow and swam to the pilot who was
losing consciousness. Grasping the pilot's life vest
collar,
"Sully", or Cox. W. M. Sullivan, swam closer to the whaleboat and then
helped push the limp pilot aboard, as others pulled him in.
"Sully"
did get a Life Saving Medal for risking a plunge into shark-infested
waters
against orders."
August 2008
From: Don Slack, S1/C 46-47
"As near as I can remember, Lt. Fitzpatrick was lost when he landed
after
being catapulted off the aft stern practicing take-offs and landings in
the
North Atlantic".
13 Jun 08
From: Arthur
Schultz,
Cdr. MC, USN (Ship's
Doctor) 45-46
From a letter dated Oct, 29, 1945: (While in Puerto Rico... ) "I had a
unique experience, and one that will remain with me as long as I
live. Jules Frank - our senior aviator took me up with him in a
two seater plane called an SNJ - an advanced trainer with a 500 hp
motor and retractable landing gear..... during our flight we used
up 65 gallons of 91 octane gasoline at 30 cents per gallon to the Navy
- and all for the asking for me."
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The Men Who Maintained our SC-1's
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• Lindemann, Walde (See Lindemann photos above.)
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Your input is vital to this article.
If you had a part in the SC-1's life on the USS Little Rock, let either
Woody Donaldson
or Art Tilley
know. We'd like to add your photo(s) or comments to this page.
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