Supermarine Walrus in Canadian Service
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) used a small number of Supermarine Walrus amphibians primarily for training and familiarization duties. Several RAF Walruses were stationed in Canada during the war, with approximately eight aircraft serving at various RCAF establishments. These aircraft helped train aircrew in amphibious flying techniques and maritime operations, skills that were important for Canada’s extensive coastal defence and anti-submarine patrol efforts.
Canadian personnel also encountered the Walrus while serving overseas with British units. Many Canadians in the Royal Navy and Royal Canadian Navy served aboard ships equipped with Walrus amphibians. The aircraft’s principal wartime roles included naval reconnaissance, artillery spotting, anti-submarine patrols, communications, and air-sea rescue. By the middle years of the war, advances in radar reduced the need for shipborne spotter aircraft, and many Walruses transitioned to search-and-rescue duties. Across the war, Walrus crews rescued hundreds of Allied airmen who had ditched at sea.
