walshlee
December 13, 2011 at 4:48 pm

RCAF Walrus Z1781 / Civil CF-GKA

Currently seeking the Royal History and Canadian civil history of the only Walrus to be surplus and registered in Canada after WWII.

Walrus Serial Z1781
Taken-on-charge by the RCAF on March 20, 1946
used at the RCAF/RCN Fleet Requirement Unit No. 742 at Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
Struck-off-charge by the RCAF on June 6, 1947
Sold for surplus by Crown Assets
Registered as CF-GKA possibly with Kenting Air Limited from July 1948 to April 1952.

Seeking the Royal Navy History of this aircraft and what her eventual fate was in Canada. Can anyone help?

here is a photo of her in civil colors:

http://www.cahs.com/images/journal/BackCover95d.htm

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By: Barrie MacLeod - 14th December 2011 at 01:12

Sam is long gone.
He let me copy his photos probably 35 years ago.
It is on my photobucket site.

Barrie
Halifax

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By: walshlee - 13th December 2011 at 22:24

Thanks Barrie…

Any idea if he is still alive? No phone listings in Nfld for him….

Is that photobucket album his or one you created?

Lee
Toronto

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By: Barrie MacLeod - 13th December 2011 at 21:57

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By: Barrie MacLeod - 13th December 2011 at 21:52

Ex-Royal Canadian Navy Walrus aircraft Z1781 and then Kenting Aviation survey aircraft CF-GKA. The aircraft was doing survey work in Newfoundland & Labrador when it went U/S. They figured there would be no parts available for this one-of-a-kind aircraft and so no need to save it. Sam Blandford turned it into a houseboat on Gander Lake, Newfoundland before they learned that the stores section at what is now CFB Shearwater had plenty of brand new engines still in their packing crates. The Gander photos are Sam Blandfords. He did tell me what happened to the fuselage but I do not remember after 30 years.

By the way, in the original post it should be 743 FRU.