Canadian Warplanes 3: Curtiss SB2C Helldivers made in Canada

Curtiss SB2C Helldivers made in Canada

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197977)

Curtiss SBW1 Helldiver, ca 1944.  The Curtiss SBW1 Helldiver, Canadian built version of the SB2C-1.  38 were built by the Canadian Car & Foundry company at Fort William, Ontario during the war for the US Navy, but none were in service with the RCAF.  SBW-1B, Canadian built version for lend-lease to the Royal Navy as the Helldiver I, 28 aircraft built by CCF, SBW-3, Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 413 built by CCF, and the SBW-4E, 270 built by CCF.  SBW-5, Canadian-built version of the SB2C-5, 85 built (165 cancelled) by the CCF.

The Royal Navy recieved the Curtis Model 84 Helldiver MK. I (U.S. Navy SBW-1B) built by Canadian Car & Foundry through Lend-Lease Requisition Number N-5 and Contract Number NXs-LL-39. The U. S. serials were 60010, 21201 and 212203 (3 aircraft) // 60013-60035 (24 aircraft). The British serial numbers were JW100 - JW125.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197980)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver, overhead view of male and female workers assembling the aircraft on the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd. production floor, Fort William, Ontario.  Eventually, 834 Helldivers were produced by CC&F in various versions from SBW-1, SBW-1B, SBW-3,SBW-4E and SBW-5.  Some of the Curtiss dive bombers were sent directly to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease arrangements.  CC&F also built the North American AT-6 Texan/Harvard under licence.

In 1939, Canadian Car & Foundry and its Chief Engineer, Elsie MacGill, were contracted by the Royal Air Force to produce the Hawker Hurricane (Marks X, XI and XII).  Refinements introduced by MacGill on the Hurricane included skis and de-icing gear.  When the production of the Hurricane was complete in 1943, CC&F's workforce of 4,500 (half of them women) had built over 1,400 aircraft, about 10% of all Hurricanes built.

Helldivers were also built by Fairchild Aircraft Ltd, designated SBF. The CCF Helldivers were designated SBW. Approximately 7,139 Helldivers were built.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197979)

Workmen assembling the nose of a Curtiss SB2C1 "Helldiver" aircraft on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd., c1944.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197984)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft almost complte, on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3197981)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft almost complete, on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194721)

Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft, on the production floor of the Canadian Car & Foundry Company Ltd.

(Archives of Ontario Photo, I0002978)

Curtiss SBW-1 Helldiver, Canadian Car & Foundry, Fort William, Ontario, 29 July 1943.

(RN Photo)

Curtiss SBW-1B Helldiver, RN (Serial No. JW117).

(NMNA Photo)

Curtiss SBW-4E Helldiver, New York Naval Reserve, USN (BuNo. V60166).

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3194722)

USN insignia with an RN serial on a "made in Canada" Curtiss SB2C1 Helldiver aircraft on the production line at Canadian Car & Foundry Co. Ltd, Fort William (now Thunder Bay), Ontario, c1944. CC&F sought out and received a production order for the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Eventually, 834 Helldivers were produced by CC&F in various versions from SBW-1, SBW-1B, SBW-3,SBW-4E and SBW-5. Some of the Curtiss divebombers were sent directly to the Royal Navy under Lend-Lease arrangements.

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