Sikorsky R‑4 Hoverfly 
in Fleet Air Arm

The Admiralty had seen demonstrations of the Sikorsky XR-4 and been impressed with its anti-submarine potential and its small size offered the chance of ship-board operation. This had been confirmed by trials aboard the mv Daghestan during Nov 1943. The first was accepted in Mar 1944 in the USA and a second batch was sent by sea to the UK aboard HMS Thane (D48) at the end of Dec 1944. Others were kept in the USA to provide training for RN pilots. 240 were ordered for the UK (including the RAF) but many were cancelled at the end of WWII and only 24 served in the Fleet Air Arm.