Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina

[spidge]

catalina_500.jpg

Consolidated Catalina

The Catalina was the most widely used flying boat of the war. It flew in all of the major theatres and was employed as a maritime patrol and attack aircraft, a long-range transport, a minelayer, and for air-sea rescue missions.

Originally designated PBY by the US navy, the Catalina entered service with it in 1936. Production of the PBY was meant to cease in 1939, but when hostilities broke out in Europe, orders were received from Britain, Australia, Canada, and Dutch East Indies for the aircraft. The British gave it the name "Catalina", which was recognised by the US navy in 1941. A total of 3,290 PBY aircraft were built during the war.

Several individual examples of the Catalina were flown by the RAAF squadrons in RAF Coastal Command, but the majority of Australian "Cats" were flown in the Pacific. The first aircraft arrived in February 1941 and were heavily employed thereafter. They suffered heavily in the initial months of the war against Japan, and by April 1942 eight of the original batch of ten had been destroyed. A steady flow of Catalinas to the RAAF was maintained throughout the war and 168 were ultimately delivered.
In the early years of the war, RAAF Catalinas in the South-West Pacific were predominantly used to bomb Japanese shipping and port facilities. Later in the war, the Catalina's main role was as a minelayer. Generally flying by night, and painted all-black, the minelaying Catalinas operated around most Japanese ports in the South-West Pacific, including along the Chinese coast. For obvious reasons, they were nicknamed the "Black Cats". Australian Catalinas were also operated in the transport and air-sea rescue roles. By the end of the war they equipped four operational squadrons (11, 20, 42, and 43), two communications units (6 and 8), and three air-sea rescue flights (111, 112, and 113). The last Catalina was withdrawn from RAAF service in April 1950.

Specifications:



Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina

Type: Long-range flying boat Entered service: 1936 Crew: 8 Wing span: 31.72 m Length: 10.45 m Weight (unladen): 17,526 kg Ceiling: 5,517 m Endurance: Maximum range 4,898 km Speed: 315 km/h Armament: 2 x .50-in Browning and 1 x .303-in Vickers machine-guns

[Kyt]

Aha, thanks for reminding me Spidge. Once again a bookmark long forgotton:

http://www.pby.com/

Covers the entire range of the Consolidated Patrol Bomber range, including the 5

[Antipodean Andy]

Some books with RAAF Black Cat focus:
Lake Boga at War by Brett Freeman (covers US ops as well)
Catalina Dreaming by Andrew McMillan
The Cat Has Nine Lives by Fred Robins (fiction but written by Cat crew and based on his experiences)

Also:
RAAF Flying Boats at War - The Way it Was by Joe Leach

[Kyt]

Some fantastic internal shots of the RAF's first Cat, sent for evaluation

Flight PDF Archive - FLIGHT, August io, 1939. PICTORIAL

[Antipodean Andy]

I've got some internals somewhere of the Black Cat now at the RAAFM. I got to crawl around inside her when she was being restored back in 2001. For a big aeroplane, she was cramped...and she didn't have a full fit out! I'll scan the pics when I come across them during the big clean up I'm having at the moment.

[The Aviator]

You talking about the one in our excellent little aviation museum here in Perth mate?
That is a big plane. Surprisingly big. Big as the Lancaster in there.
Great exhibit. Great museum.

The PBY Catalina
First Flight: 21 March 1935 (XP3Y-1) 9 October 1936 (PBY-1)
In Service: 1936 – 1957 (Individual Catalinas are still being flown today.)
Notable: Catalina crews located the German battleship Bismarck after it disappeared in heavy fog in 1941 and the Japanese fleet prior to the Battle of Midway in 1942.

I just happen to have a cockpit photo.

[Antipodean Andy]

Very cool, TA, looks like the one at Pensacola? Funnily enough, I forgot about the Bull Creek one despite being there a couple of weeks ago and seeing it for the first time. The one I was thinking of was at RAAF Amberley and was being restored for the RAAFM at Point Cook by the same guys that did the A-20s. Can't remember if she's now in store or down at Point Cook as I didn't think they could put her under cover yet.

[Kyt]

Surprisingly minimalist panel, even for that era.

[Antipodean Andy]

You and your big words...era.

[Antipodean Andy]

Latest on the efforts to fully transform the HARS Cat into an RAAF Black Cat:

Restoration Updates - Warbirdz.Net Forum
Latest at HARS includes:

CATALINA- Fuselage opening cut and Port blister temp fitting, starboard blister being prepared. New blister perspex ordered, front turret sourced, purchased and being shipped to Australia, ammunition bins refurbished, ammo feeds refurbished, 50 cal and 30 cal replica Brownings being sourced, bombadiers perspex front window installed and Mk 26 Naval Bomb Sight installed, one 1,000lb mine rack installed on Port side. Airworthy