Curtiss O2C Helldiver


The O2C Helldiver was simply a redesignation of later F8C variants.

The redesignations were as follows:

F8C-5 = O2C-1

XF8C-6 = O2C-2
There were just two XF8C-6s, each modified from an F8C-5s
with a supercharger, leading edge slats, and wing flaps.
Only one of these was redesignated as an O2C-2.

XF8C-7 = X02C-2
This single ship was the A-4 Helldiver, a civil variant
of the F8C-8 that had been redesignated as the XF8C-7.

XF8C-8 = O2C-2
There were two XF8C-8s, which were prototypes
built with an enclosed forward cockpit.





O2C-1 8948 was flown from Naval Reserve Air Base (NRAB) Great Lakes, Illinois.


San Diego Air and Space Museum (Lowry Album via Leisure World Aerospace Club) - Larger Image



O2C-1 8764 was one of six of the type flown from NRAB Seattle in 1932.
The ship is shown here over the city of Seattle, crewed by Grant Calhoon and K.D. Simpson.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image



These O2C-1s are from Training Squadron 11 (VN-11) flying out of NRAB Minneapolis
(Wold Chamberlain Field), Minnesota, circa 1930. The ship nearest the camera
is the Skipper's mount, while the other two are from the 2nd Section.


USMC Archives - Larger Image



I have yet to identify which outfit this O2C-1 was from.


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image



A closer look at the emblem on the fuselage...


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection)



These USMC O2C-1s flew with VO-7M in Nicaragua.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image



Back to 'Other Curtiss Aircraft'