Supermarine Walrus - Surviving Aircraft

Surviving Aircraft

Four examples survive.

• Seagull V A2-4

One of the original Australian aircraft, and now on display at the Royal Air Force Museum London. Built in 1934, it arrived in Australia in early 1936 where it was initially allocated to No. 101 Flight RAAF. Before the war, it had various duties, but mainly flew from the cruiser HMAS Sydney. It served for most of the war with No. 9 Squadron RAAF in Australia. Post-war, it was flown by several Australian private owners before being badly damaged in a takeoff accident in 1970 at Taree, New South Wales. The vandalised, derelict wreck was subsequently acquired from its owner by the RAF Museum, in exchange for a Spitfire and a cash payment. In 1973, it was transported back to the UK and restoration immediately began at the museum.

• Walrus HD874

This was in use with the RAAF's Antarctic flight when it was badly damaged by a storm on Heard Island in 1947. It was recovered in 1980, and restored between 1993 and 2002; it is held by the Royal Australian Air Force Museum.

• Walrus L2301

The Walrus displayed at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton is a composite aircraft, constructed using the fuselage and engine of Walrus L2301. This is one of the aircraft that was flown by the Irish Air Corps during World War II. In 1942, it was stolen by four Irish nationals who intended to fly to France to join the Luftwaffe. However, it was intercepted by RAF Spitfires and escorted to RAF St Eval; the aircraft and its occupants were returned to Ireland. After the war, it was transferred to Aer Lingus, but they never flew it. Instead, it was sold to Wing Commander Ronald Gustave Kellett. It was given the civilian registration G-AIZG and flown until 1949 by members of No. 615 Squadron RAF for recreation. In 1963, it was recovered from a dump at Haddenham airfield (formerly RAF Thame) by members of the Historic Aircraft Preservation Society. They presented it to the Fleet Air Arm Museum who began restoration, putting it on display in 1966.

• Walrus W2718 (G/RNLI)

This aircraft was at one time part of the collection of Solent Sky, an air museum in Southampton. The museum began restoring the aircraft to flying condition. Later the project was sold to James Lyle and the restoration restarted in 2011 at Vintage Fabrics, Audley End, Essex.