Vickers Viking

s/n GCYES

c/n 28/CV7

Vickers-Armstrong

G-CYES

Known Units: 3

Airframe shipped unflown from UK. RCAF supplied engines installed by Canadian Vickers during build-up. Taken on strength on 15 June 1923. Used by 3 (Operations) Squadron at Rockcliffe and Shirley's Bay, Ontario, 1925. Struck off strength on 2 July 1925, after a crash.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

s/n GCYET

c/n 27/CV8

Vickers-Armstrong

G-CYET

Known Units: 6

Airframe shipped unflown from UK. RCAF supplied engines installed by Canadian Vickers during build-up. Taken on strength on 12 July 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Surveyed northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan, including operations from Pelican River and Rabbit River, Saskatchewan, summer of 1924. Wheels removed for this operation, to reduce weight. Apparently was first aircraft to ever visit Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, during this mission. Returned to Victoria Beach on 14 August 1924, having covered 2,810 miles in 44:10 flying time. Broke an aileron control rod in flight over Manitoba on 4 September 1926. Crew made successful forced landing, and fabricated new rod from birch pole. Continued survey mission after this. Broke up after exiting cloud in steep dive on 11 July 1927 near Hilbre Manitoba, apparently had entered IFR conditions inadvertently. Aircraft struck off RCAF strength on 18 October 1927.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

s/n GCYEU

c/n CV1

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEU

Eagle

Known Units:

First aircraft manufactured by Canadian Vickers. Used RAF surplus Eagle engines, received as part of the Imperial Gift. Taken on strength on 24 July 1923. Christened at launching ceremony on 25 July 1923 by Mrs. G.J. Desbarets, wife of the then Deputy Minister of Defense. Acceptance testing by J.L. Gordon and E.W. Stedman, would both become Air Marshals in the next war. Based at Victoria Beach, Manitoba. With 4 Photo Detachment in summer of 1928, under command of Flying Officer (later Air Marshal) Slemon. Unserviceable with broken oil scavenger line at Big River, Saskatchewan in September of that year. Later tested to destruction at Winnipeg in 1931, following several hull failures on RCAF Vikings. The last survivng Viking, it had about 800 hours airframe time when withdrawn from use and struck off strength on 4 May 1931.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

s/n GCYEV

c/n CV2

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEV

Known Units:

Taken on Strength on 15 August 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Also used at Cormorant Lake. Transported by road through Winnipeg on 19 September 1923, for winter storage in a rented garage. Struck off strength on 20 February 1931, as one of the last Vikings still in service.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 196

s/n GCYEW

c/n CV3

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEW

Known Units:

Taken on strength on 31 August 1923. Used at Jericho Beach Air Station, probably from 1923. Noted as serviceable at Vancouver, in the week ending on 6 January 1924. Transferred to Victoria Beach, Manitoba (north of Winnipeg) in spring of 1925. Crashed there on 31 July 1926. Hull broke in two on takeoff, one of several such accidents with the Viking IV. Struck off strength on 15 October 1926.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197

s/n GCYEX

c/n CV4

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEX

Known Units:

Taken on strength on 3 October 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Seen at Victoria Beach, Manitoba, 28 May 1924. At Cormorant Lake Sub-Base in 1925. Crashed somewhere in Manitoba on 25 August 1929. Struck off strength by 15 November 1929.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197

s/n GCYEY

c/n CV5

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEY

Known Units:

Taken on strength on 17 October 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Victoria Beach, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Crashed on landing after a float dug into ground at Kashabowie Lake, Ontario. Hull broke in two pieces. Struck off strength on 24 August 1926. Also reported as struck off on 22 July 1926, which was potentially the crash date.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197

s/n GCYEZ

c/n CV6

Canadian Vickers

G-CYEZ

Known Units:

Taken on strength on 9 November 1923. Operated throughout Western Canada by 1 (Operations) Wing out of Victoria Beach, Winnipeg, Manitoba. Seen at Lac du Bonnet sub-base in 1927. Struck off strength on 28 August 1930.
last update: 2025-April-17 📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 197