Designed as a biplane Scout and Observation aircraft, the Cutriss Seagul initially flew in prototype in 1931.  Like a number of American military planes which first appeared in the 1930s, the obsolescent Seagull was pressed into active wartime duty in WWII and operated extensively with the Navy until 1944.  They were catapulted from ships then landed alongside after flight to be hoisted aboard.

Noted more for its dependability than high speed performance, at least one Seagull saved its crew during the war by virtue of the modesty of its capabilities. While rescuing a Navy flier downed near an enemy-held island in the Pacific, this SOC was forced to fly toward the island in order to take off into the wind.  The enemy, over-eager at such a target, but anticipating a much faster plane, unleashed an anti-aircraft barrage ahead of the intruding Seagull, which proceeded to follow the enemy fire, successfully escaping with all hands.  This painting depicts a Curtis SOC-1 alongside the battleship  USS Mississippi.