Grumman Coot Mk.1S

[RAFF-35]

Facing a massive German arms buildup and desperate for modern aircraft, the French Air Force purchased U.S. aircraft of numerous types in the late 1930s. Grumman received an order for more than 200 Ducks which incorporated French equipment such as metric instruments and backwards throttle controls. French officials expected deliveries to begin in January 1939.
Just before the Franco-German Armistice, the  aircraft on the French order were signed over to the United Kingdom; 107 Ducks had been completed to French specifications and were converted to British requirements in the UK where the French weapons and instruments were replaced. The Aircraft then became known as the "Coot Mk.1".

The Coot served with both the Fleet Air Arm and the Royal Air Force in various roles such as fleet reconnaissance, maritime patrol and search and rescue. One of the Coot's more interesting roles under the command of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) which managed to acquire 16 aircraft from Coastal Command. 

The aircraft's short-field performance and rugged undercarriage made it ideal for  clandestine missions using small, improvised airstrips behind enemy lines to place or recover agents, particularly in occupied France, Norway and Greece with the help of the local resistance networks.
The Coot's cabin area was able to carry two passengers and upto four in some discomfort in case of urgent necessity. In order to reduce the detectability of the aircraft at night, a number of modifications were made such as fitting exhaust mufflers and flame dampeners to reduce the audio/visual signature of the engine. A four bladed prop was added to allow the engine to be throttled back more and further reduce engine noise. The aircraft were also given new night camouflage schemes. The modifications were given the official designation as the Mk.1S. It was widely rumoured that the "S" stood for Stealth or Silent. However, it actually stood for "Special".

The pilots of No. 138, and from early 1942 No. 161 Squadron, transported 137 agents to and recovered 188 agents from Nazi-occupied Europe.
In the Far East, from 1943 No. 357 Squadron RAF operated six Mk.1S Coots as C Flight for dropping agents in support of Fourteenth Army in Burma.

Asides from agent transportation, the Coots were also used to lay sea mines at night and to assist the newly formed SBS to perform raids all over occupied Europe after the disastrous Operation Franklin which used folding canoes.

[Rick Lowe]

 

[SPINNERS]

Very nice and I like the SOE element of your backstory. Well done mate.

[Wardukw]

Man I like that 👍👍🤘
Looks even better with the 4 bladed prop .

[DogfighterZen]

  

[zenrat]

Good job.

 

[comrade harps]

l like that high contrast camo 

[Old Wombat]

  

[RAFF-35]

Man I like that 👍👍🤘
Looks even better with the 4 bladed prop .

Thanks! I've been looking at it for the past week or so with the four bladed prop and now normal three bladed Ducks don't look right to me 😂

[RAFF-35]

Very nice and I like the SOE element of your backstory. Well done mate.

Thank you very much! I think it makes more sense than using a Lysander 😄

[PR19_Kit]

Oh yes, I like that, a LOT!   

[Joe C-P]

Sigh.   
A lovely and talented bird, that.  I do like the idea of updating for stealth operations.