Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Finadagrave.com
Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)
River Beach, Nova Scotia
Northrop Delta
Canada selected the Delta for use as a photographic survey aircraft for use by the RCAF in 1935. They were built by Canadian Vickers Ltd under license. One aircraft, the last Delta built by Northrop, was supplied as a part assembled pattern to Canadian Vickers, first flying on 16 Aug 1936 and being delivered to the RCAF on 1 Sep that year. It was followed by a further 19 aircraft built wholly by Canadian Vickers, production continuing until October 1940. These were the first all-metal stressed-skin aircraft to be built in Canada.
The Deltas, which were capable of being operated from wheeled, ski or float undercarriages, proved capable survey aircraft, well suited to operations in the North of Canada, but in August 1939, when the outbreak of the Second World War loomed, Canada found itself short of coastal patrol aircraft, and the Deltas were diverted to this role, being fitted with floats and carrying out long anti-submarine missions. The Deltas were less successful as patrol floatplanes, as they were damaged by ocean swell and by salt water corrosion, and they were forced to revert to landplane use after two months.
The Delta used the same wing as the Northrop Gamma, had split flaps and a non-retractable undercarriage like its predecessors. The larger fuselage accommodated up to eight passengers. For RCAF use, the design was modified to accept three Fairchild A-3 cameras at the rear of the cabin. The cabin floor was strengthened to accept freight loads and a large, upward opening freight door was installed on the port side. Two Deltas were armed with a defensive machine gun fitted in an open hatch in the roof. A plexiglass fairing provided protection from the slipstream. This particular installation was not very satisfactory causing buffeting and a marked decrease in performance. The Deltas were withdrawn from operations in late 1941, and were then used as instructional airframes in training schools. The fuselage of No. 673 which crashed in 1939, is now with the Canada Air and Space Museum in Ottawa. Harold A Skaarup Web Page
Wikipedia Delta Transport and Patrol
Harold A Skaarup Web PageDelta Mk. II 673
Served with Test and Development Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, dates unknown. Operated by No. 3 (GP) Detachment of No. 8 (P) Squadron on survey flights over Alberta and North West Territories, May to September 1938. With No. 8 (BR) Squadron, RCAF Rockcliffe, Ont., at outbreak of war. Ferried to war station at Dartmouth, NS. Lost between Megantic, Quebec and Fredericton, NB on 14 September 1939. First RCAF WW2 casuality. Extenisve search carried out, until 4 November 1939, using military and civilian aircraft, with no results. Wreckage not found until July 1958, 40 miles north of Fredricton, NB. Wreckage now at National Aeronautical Collection, considered unrestorable.1937-11-25 Taken on Strength 2020-09-23
1940-01-20 Application for Write-Off Approval Application to write off submitted by Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1940-05-08 Struck off Strength 2020-09-23
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