Boeing Stearman Model 75, part five. The Stearman in America, part two. Canadian, Colombian, Cuban and Dominican users

 

The Boeing Stearman PT-13/17 Kaydet is an American double winged two-seater basic trainer that was developed during the 1930s and was exported to various countries around the world, among them, the following ones:

• Canada: The first Canadian user of the Stearman was Trans-Canada Airlines, which bought three Model 73 (PT-13) in 1937 and used them for surveying new routes and pilot training. They were employed until two years later, 1939 and sold soon later.
  However, the most known Canadian usage of the Kaydet was the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), which employed three-hundred PT-17 (locally known as PT-27) bought by the Royal Air Force (RAF) under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in spring 1942. The Stearmans were to be used by the No. 3 Flying Instructors' School in Arnprior, Ontario and four additional elementary flying schools in the Canadian prairies. 
  However, they were initially delivered without winter and night-flying equipment (an enclosed canopy) and in November 1942 they were returned to the United States Army Air Force in exchange for the Fairchild Cornell. 
  Other RCAF's units which used the Kaydet were Test and Development Establishment of the RCAF and No. 36 Elementary Flying Training School in Alberta. 
  
  
• Colombia: In 1942 the Colombian Air Force (CAF) acquired an unknown number of PT-17 Kaydets to employ them at their Military Aviation School as basic trainers. They were employed in this role for many years, until 1954 when they were gradually replaced by the much modern Beech T-34 Mentor. The last PT-17 serving with the CAF was retired in 1957. Many were sold to private aeroclubs and some are fly worthy nowadays.
  
  
• Cuba: The Cuban Army Air Corps (CAAC) bought seven Stearman Model A73B1 (a Model 73 powered by a Wright R-790 Whirlwind engine) which were delivered between July 1939 and March 1940. Later, when the United States entered the war in December 1941, Cuba was sold a total of 48 trainer aircraft as part of a lend-lease system, in order to watch the entrances to the Gulf of Mexico against German U-Boats, as a total of four Cuban merchant ships were sink, killing a total of 56 Cuban sailors. 
  Among those 48 aircraft, were six PT-17s (numbers 38-39-40-41-42 and 43) delivered in July 1942 and three additional N2S-4 (numbered 44-45-46) in June 1943. 
  They all were flown under Aviation School located presumably in Rancho Boyeros. 
  
  
• Dominican Republic: The Dominican Military Aviation Corps employed a total of 25  PT-17s during the 1950s. They were replaced by more modern types such as the Beech T-34 Mentor. 
  
  

Sources:

1st https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing-Stearman_Model_75

2nd https://canadianflight.org/content/stearman-a75n1

3rd https://www.vintagewings.ca/boeing-pt-27-stearman

4th https://www.warplane.com/aircraft/collection/details.aspx?aircraftId=6

5th https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2649381015292344&id=1414675768762881&set=a.1415050675392057&locale=ms_MY (translated)

6th https://www.urrib2000.narod.ru/Mil1-4.html (translated)

7th https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuerza_Aérea_de_República_Dominicana#Antiguas_Aeronaves (translated)

Vought OS2U Kingfisher, part two

The American floatplane Vought OS2U Kingfisher was supplied to many foreign countries, among them the following ones:

• Argentina: It seems that, in 1944 one Uruguayan Kingfisher got lost during a flight and had to force land in the Argentinean city of Mar Chiquita. It seems that the aircraft was interned and the crew was returned to Uruguay. However, other sources claim that nine machines were supplied to Argentina in 1942. As the text mentions to Argentine Kingfisher are scarce and there isn't graphical evidence, the drawing should considered as speculative.
• Chile: The Chilean Air Force got their first Kingfisher in 1942 and were assigned to Grupo Nº2 (Group Number 2). They were employed for recon and patrol duties and were active until 1957, when they were written off. One of them was used by Teniente 1º (1st Lieutenant) Arturo Parodi Alister to fly over Deception Island, in the Antarctica for half an hour in recon and aerial photograph missions as he and his Kingfisher was part of the Chilean expedition that set up the first Chilean permanent base in Antarctica.
• Cuba: The Cuban Air Force received in July 1942 three Kingfisher in order to perform anti-submarine patrols. They were assigned to the Cuban Navy and served well until the late 1950s. They saw action in the Cuban Revolution too, as they were used for anti-guerrilla operations by the government forces. One Kingfisher was captured by the rebels on 7th December 1958 and was used for bombing the besieged encampment of the garrison in La Maya, making them to surrender. Once the revolution was over and somewhat consolidated, the Kingfisher was written off.
• Dominican Republic: Three machines were sold to the Dominican Republic, most probably in 1942 and were used in the patrol and reconnaissance roles. They were active until the late 1950s when they were written off. As there isn't graphical evidence of their service with the Caribbean country, the colours and registration should be taken as speculative.

Sources:

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_OS2U_Kingfisher

2. https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_OS2U_Kingfisher (translated)

3. https://aeropinakes.com/wordpress/1958/05/21/los-primeros-aviones-de-la-far/ (translated)

4. https://www.fach.mil.cl/images/boletin/historico_diciembre18.pdf (translated)

5. http://www.pilotoviejo.com/os2uhistoria.htm (translated)