Issue No 22 THE AVIATION HISTORIAN 87
Belgrano and ARA 9 de Julio in 1951, heralding the
helicopter’s replacement of fixed-wing aircraft.
In 1951 the remaining Walruses were re-coded
7-O-1 to 7-O-6 and assigned to the Escuadrilla de
Observación de la Fuerza Aeronaval based at Puerto
Belgrano. Lack of spares was an increasingly
serious problem and, given that getting any more
was unlikely if not impossible, the AN’s technical
commission decided to retire Walruses 7-O-2,
7-O-4 and 7-O-5 during 1952–53.
On October 12, 1953, 7-O-6 was damaged in
a groundloop (a frequent occurrence for the
amphibian, with its high sides and narrow-
track undercarriage) and on July 22, 1955, 7-O-3
was badly damaged following engine failure on
take-off from BA Comandante Espora. The crew
suffered minor injuries, the Walrus coming off
worse, with damage inflicted on the hull, wing
and floats. The incident marked the end of the
Walrus’s operational career with the AN, and the
last Walruses in service, 7-O-1, 7-O-3 and 7-O-6,
were struck off charge during 1957–58.
The Escuadrilla de Observación was disbanded
at Comandante Espora on November 29, 1956.
The four surviving Ducks — J2F-6s coded 2-O-
14, 2-O-15, 2-O-17 and 2-O-28 — were sent to BN
Mar del Plata, where the amphibians shared the
ramp with Catalinas of the Escuadrilla Aeronaval
de Exploración; some were still operational on
general duties as late as autumn of 1958.
Aircraft preservation was not a priority in
Argentina during the late 1950s and early 1960s,
and countless aviation treasures were lost during
the period, the Ducks and Walruses among them.
Once withdrawn, most of them were sent to
scrapyards and quickly disappeared.Walrus I Inventory No (i/n) 0087 New build,
first flight (ff) 25.04.38; flight tested in UK under B
Conditions as N-15; later had AN identities
M-O-9, M-O-1, 2-O-10 and 2-O-12. Taken on
charge (TOC) by AN 03.01.39 as M-O-9. Upper
starboard wing caught fire from spark before take-
off, Mar del Plata, 13.03.39. Repaired. Hull and
lower port wing and port wingtip float damaged
while being loaded aboard ARA La Argentina at
Puerto Nuevo, Buenos Aires, 14.04.39. Repaired
at BA Punta Indio. Hit side of ARA La Argentina (as
2-O-12) while approaching to be hoisted in. Date
unknown. Repaired. Port lower mainplane became
submerged and damaged (as 2-O-12) while
being recovered at sea aboard ARA 25 de Mayo,
01.10.45. Repaired. Struck off charge (SOC) 1947.
Walrus I i/n 0088 New build, ff 29.04.38; flight
tested in UK under B Conditions as N-16; AN
identities M-O-10, M-O-2, 2-O-11 and 2-O-13. TOC- Thrown into the air (as 2-O-13) by swell on
take-off and hit water heavily while operating from
ARA La Argentina, 01.10.46. Repaired. SOC 1949.
Walrus I i/n 0221 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-33; AN
identities 2-O-23, M-O-2, 2-O-13 and 7-O-1. TOC
28.08.47. SOC 1957.
Walrus I i/n 0222 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-34;
AN identities 2-O-24 and M-O-3. TOC 28/08/47.
Damaged (as 2-O-24) during take-off from Port
Melchior while assigned to 1947 Expedición Naval
Antártica, 05.03.47. Repaired by crew. Engine
failed (as M-O-3) on take-off and aircraft struck
breakwater at BN Puerto Belgrano, damaging upper
and lower starboard wings and nose, 10.12.49.
Repaired. SOC 1952.
Walrus I i/n 0223 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-35;
AN identities 2-O-25, M-O-4, 7-O-2. TOC 28.08.47.
Landed (as M-O-4) on soft ground five miles
(8km) south-west of BA Comandante Espora while
assisting crew of J2F-5 (2-O-23), damaging lower
starboard wing, 12.01.49. Repaired. SOC 1953.
Walrus I i/n 0224 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-36; AN
identities 2-O-26, M-O-5 and 7-O-3. TOC 03.11.47.
Stalled after take-off 22.07.55. SOC 1958.
Walrus I i/n 0225 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-37; AN
identities 2-O-27, M-O-5 and 7-O-4. TOC 28.08.47.
SOC 1953.
Walrus I i/n 0226 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-38; AN
identities 2-O-28, M-O-7 and 7-O-5. Water-tested
24.2.47. TOC 03.11.47. SOC 1953.
Walrus I i/n 0227 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-39;
AN identities 2-O-29, M-O-8 and 7-O-6. Flown
Eastleigh—Chilbolton for storage, 21.4.47.
Delivered Eastleigh 21.7.47. TOC 13/02/48.
Groundlooped (as 7-O-6) at BA Comandante
Espora, 12.10.53. SOC 1958
Walrus I i/n 0228 Former RAF serial unknown;
flight tested in UK under B Conditions as N-40;
AN identities 2-O-30 and M-O-9. Water-tested
12.12.47. TOC 13.02.48. SOC 1952.ARGENTINA’S AVIACIÓN NAVAL WALRUSES Compiled by Ricardo M. Lezon
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author would like to thank
the Archivo General de la Armada Argentina, Brooklands
Museum, Museo de la Aviación Naval Argentina, RAF
Museum, Solent Sky, Peter R. Arnold. Lorenzo Borri,
Juan Carlos Cicalesi, Capt Enrique Isola (Ret), James
Kightly, Horacio S. Mazzeo, Claudio Meunier, Carlos
Mey, Andy Nicholson, Guy Revell, the late Tte Nav Raul
J. Robatto, Robert Stitt, the late Ray Sturtivant, Dave
Wathley and Peter Weston for their help with this articleTAH