Curtiss SBC Helldivers
of the Aéronavale


In early 1940 France placed an order for 90 Curtiss SBC Helldivers with which to equip units of
the Aéronavale, the French naval air arm. After the German invasion in May of 1940, an attempt was
made to expedite this order by supplying France with 50 existing airframes that were at the time in use
by outfits of the US Naval Reserve. In early June of 1940 these aircraft were flown to the Buffalo Airport
in Cheektowaga, NY so that Curtiss Wright could refurbish them to French standards. Once ready, the ships
were flown to Houlton, Maine and towed across the border into New Brunswick, Canada. From there, they were
flown directly from the Woodstock Highway to RCAF Station Dartmouth in Nova Scotia and ferried out to a
French aircraft carrier, the Béarn, which had been tasked with delivering the Helldivers to Brest, France
along with other aircraft, including 27 Curtiss Hawk 75s for the Armée de l'Air, the French Air Force.
Ultimately, none of these aircraft would reach their intended destination, and few would fly again.


This photo was taken at the Buffalo Airport while the Helldivers were being refurbished.
By all accounts I've come across, this was a fast-paced and rather hectic operation.


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



A trio of CW-77s on the ramp at Buffalo. 'CW-77' was Curtiss' export designation for the SBC.


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



The following series of five photos shows the Helldivers being towed across the border
from Houlton, Maine into New Brunswick. The Canadians closed down the Woodstock Highway
and the aircrat flew directly from that road to RCAF Station Dartmouth in Nova Scotia.


Library and Archives Canada


Library and Archives Canada


Library and Archives Canada


Library and Archives Canada


Library and Archives Canada



A Helldiver lands at RCAF Dartmouth. All but one of the 50 aircraft arrived safely;
a single ship crashed in inclement weather while flying from Buffalo to Albany, NY.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image



This photo shows RCAF personnel placing a pair of Helldivers onto a barge at Dartmouth.


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



The aircraft were then ferried by barge to the French aircraft carrier Béarn
which was moored at Halifax Harbour a short distance across the water from Dartmouth.


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image



The Béarn departed for Brest, France on June 16th, 1940, but Brest was occupied by the
Germans a couple of days later and the ship was diverted first to Bordeux, then, with the rapidly
changing war situation, to French Morocco, and finally to Fort-de-France, Martinique in the
French West Indies. There the Helldivers and other aircraft, including 27 Curtiss Hawk 75s and 25
Stinson 105s for the Armée de l'Air, as well as six Brewster Buffaloes built for Belgium, were
offloaded and languished in open storage for the rest of the war. Ravaged by the elements, Vichy
saboteurs' explosives, and, finally, the scrapper's torch, it seems that none of these birds
ever took to the air again. A rather sad ending to a fascinating story.



Carl Vincent Collection via A Scale Canadian - Larger Image



But that wasn't quite the whole story...



With room for only 44 of the 49 aircraft aboard the Béarn, five Helldivers were left behind at
Dartmouth, to be delivered at a later date. However, with the fall of France, these remaining ships
were acquired by the British, given the designation Cleveland Mk.I, and shipped to England aboard
the aircraft carrier HMS Furious. There, they were used in various training and utility roles by the
Royal Air Force. So at least a few of these birds were put to good use in the war effort.

A feature page for the SBC Helldiver in British service may be added in the future.



San Diego Air and Space Museum (Charles M. Daniels collection) - Larger Image



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