Republic Seabees in France

 

Approximately thirteen Seabees were exported from manufacturer Republic Aviation Corp. to French customers or customers related to France or French colonies.   Most of them were operated outside France, in French colonies and French protectorates.  Three of the Seabees were operated by TRAPAS in Nouvelle-Calédonie.  Others were operated in French West Africa, French Guiana and Indochina.

Nouvelle-Calédonie (New Caledonia) is a French overseas territory in the South Pacific Ocean, east of Australia.  The French possession consists of the main island New Caledonia, the archipelago of Iles Loyaute, and numerous small, sparsely populated islands and atolls.  Société Francaise des Transports Aériens du Pacific Sud - TRAPAS, was established in the capital Nouméa on 16 October 1946 by the French government to run air services in New Caledonia.  The fleet of aircraft included 3 Consolidated PBY-5A, 1 Canso A and 3 Republic Seabee amphibians; F-BDRK (s/n 198), F-BDRL (s/n 525) and F-BDRM (s/n 526).  The Seabees were given individual names.  Two of the Seabees were sadly destroyed on 14 March 1948, when a cyclone hit the Caledonian islands.  TRAPAS was laid down in September 1950.

 

NC6695K (s/n 978)
with French colors and roundels in Indochina.
Photo: via Tailly Thierry

 

French Indochina: In 1947 the French government in Indochina acquired 3 Republic Seabees amphibians to equip an utility air unit named 'Section de Liaison du Haut-Commissariat de France' (SLHCF), based at Tan Son Nhut (Saigon).  The 3 Seabees were; s/n 961 NC6678K, s/n 978 NC6695K and possibly s/n 997.

They were piloted by pilots from Escadrille de Liaisons Aériennes 52 (French Air Force) and Escadrille 8S (Naval Aviation).  Escadrille 8S also operated Supermarine Otter.  NC6695K was overall silver paint and had a French roundel on and under every wing, one French roundel and two forest green stripes on each fuselage side, registration number in forest green paint on the right wing end under left wing and green hull and wing floats bottoms.

 

F-BEDQ (s/n 961)
French Indochina
Photo: via Tailly Thierry

 

The fates of the French Seabees are unknown, except for two reported to be destroyed in a cyclone in New Caledonia in 1948.

 

Thank you Chris Chatfield, Steve Darke, David Legg, Ralph Lunt, Peter Quade, Tailly Thierry, Peter Watson for your kind help!

If you can help with any information or photos of the French Republic Seabees, please e-mail Webmaster (Steinar Saevdal)!

 
S Reg. Mk: S/N: Date: Remarks:
U F-BCJP 160 1946-11- Union Coloniale Agricole et Sarrestiere. Ex NC87591.
U F-BCJU 677 1947-04- Cie. Generale des Voitures a Paris; Paris.
U F-BDRK 198 1947-01- Mr. Henry Dewez, Societe Francaise de Transports; Nouméa, New Caledonia. Operated by TRAPAS. Named 'Koumac'.
D F-BDRL 525 1947-03- Mr. Henry Dewez, Societe Francaise de Transports; Nouméa, New Caledonia. Operated by TRAPAS. Named 'Noumea'.
1948-03-14 Destroyed by gale in New Caledonia.
To N65214 ??
D F-BDRM 526 1947-03- Mr. Henry Dewez, Societe Francaise de Transports; Nouméa, New Caledonia. Operated by TRAPAS. Named 'Poindimie'.
1948-03-14 Destroyed by gale in New Caledonia.
U F-BEDQ 961 1947-09- Ex N6678K
Messageries-Fluviales; Cochine, Saigon, French Indochina.
To F-VNAQ
U F-OAAL 1055 1948- Ex N6765K
American French Co. for Overseas Development; French West Africa.
Written off?
U F-OASQ 997   Ex N6714K. To F-VNAB
U F-VNAQ 961   Ex F-BEDQ
U F-VNAB 997   Ex N6714K, F-OASQ
U F-???? 966 1947-10- Ex N6683K. American French Co. for Overseas Development; French Guiana.
U VR-HDV 976 1947-10- Ex (N6693K). American French Co. for Overseas Development; Hong Kong. To PI-C320.
U F-OABR? 977 1947-10- Ex NC6694K. American French Co. for Overseas Development; French Indochina.
U F-???? 978 1947-10- Ex NC6695K. American French Co. for Overseas Development; French Indochina.
U F-???? 979 1947-10- Ex NC6696K. American French Co. for Overseas Development; French Indochina.
U F-???? 995 1947- Ex N6712K. American French Co. for Overseas Development; French West Africa.
  Crashed (C) / Scrapped/Destroyed (D)
  Confirmed flying (F)
  Unknown (U)/ Restoration (R) / Stored (S) / Exported (E).

 

Updated: 2006-02-04
Copyright  © 2004-2006 Steinar Saevdal