and radio corrections back to the ship. The floatplanes used in World War II also performed search and rescue for naval aviators who were shot down or forced to ditch in the ocean. Seahawk In June 1942, the US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics requested industry proposals for a new seaplane to replace the Kingfisher and Curtiss SO3C Seamew. The new aircraft was required to be able to use landing gear as well as floats. Curtiss submitted a design on 1 August and received a contract for two prototypes and five service-test aircraft on 25 August. The first flight of a prototype XSC-1 took place on 16 February 1944 at the Columbus, Ohio Curtiss plant. The first production aircraft were delivered in October 1944, and by the beginning of 1945, the single-seat Curtiss SC Seahawk floatplane began replacing the Kingfisher. Had the Montana class been completed, they would have arrived around the time of this replacement, and would likely have been equipped with the Seahawk for use in combat operations and seaborne search and rescue. Ships Five ships of the Montana class were authorized on 19 July 1940, but they were suspended indefinitely until being cancelled on 21 July 1943. The ships were to be built at the New York Navy Yard, Philadelphia Navy Yard, and Norfolk Navy Yard. USS Montana (BB-67) Montana was planned to be the lead ship of the class. She was to be the third ship named in honor of the 41st state, and she was assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Both the earlier battleship, , and BB-67 were cancelled, so Montana is the only one of the (48 at the time) US states never to have had a battleship with a "BB" hull classification completed in its honor. USS Ohio (BB-68) Ohio was to be the second Montana-class battleship. She was to be named in honor of the 17th state, and she was assigned to the Philadelphia Navy Yard for construction. Ohio would have been the fourth ship to bear that name had she been commissioned. USS Maine (BB-69) Maine was to be the third Montana-class battleship. She was to be named in honor of the 23rd state, and she was assigned to the New York Navy Yard. Maine would have been the third ship to bear that name had she been commissioned. USS New Hampshire (BB-70) New Hampshire was to be the fourth Montana-class