PBY Catalina
PBY-5 Catalina landing at NAS Jacksonville.
Type	patrol bomber
Manufacturer	Consolidated Aircraft
Designed by	Isaac M. Laddon
Maiden flight	28 March 1935
Introduced	October 1936, USN
Retired	January 1957, USNR
Primary users	US Navy USAAF Royal Navy
Produced	1936-1945
Number built	4,051 (est.)
Unit cost	$90,000 as of 1935

PBY Catalina was the United States Navy designation for an American and Canadian-built flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s. PB stands for Patrol Bomber, with Y being Consolidated Aircraft’s manufacturer identification. It could be equipped with depth charges, bombs, torpedoes, and .50 caliber machine guns and was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. Catalinas served with every branch of the US military and in the air forces and navies of many other nations. In the United States Army Air Forces and later in the USAF Strategic Air Command their designation was the OA-10 while Canadian-built PBYs were known by the nickname Canso. Image File history File links PBY Catalina landing at NAS Jacksonville during WWII. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Naval Air Station Jacksonville, located in Jacksonville, Florida, is the third-largest naval installation in the United States. ... A patrol bomber, or patrol aircraft, is an airplane designed to operate for long times over water in an anti-shipping or anti-submarine role. ... An aerospace manufacturer is a company or individual involved in the various aspects of designing, building, testing, selling, and maintaining aircraft, aircraft parts, missiles, rockets, and/or spacecraft. ... The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1923 by Reuben H. Fleet. ... The Maiden flight of an aircraft is the first occasion on which an aircraft leaves the ground of its own accord. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... The Fleet Air Arm is the operational group of the Royal Navy responsible for the operation of the aircraft on board their ships. ... Events January January 1 - Italian colonies of Tripoli and Kyrenaika are joined together as Libya January 7 - Italian premier Benito Mussolini and French foreign minister Pierre Laval conclude agreement in which each power undertakes not to oppose the others colonial claims. ... The United States Navy, also known as the USN or the U.S. Navy, is a branch of the United States armed forces responsible for conducting naval operations. ... Boeing 314 A flying boat is an aircraft that is designed to take off and land on water, in particular a type of seaplane which uses its fuselage as a floating hull (instead of pontoons mounted below the fuselage). ... The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... The 1940s decade ran from 1940 to 1949. ... The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1923 by Reuben H. Fleet. ... Depth Charge used by U.S. Navy later in World War II The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. ... The Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb produced in the United States. ... A modern torpedo, historically called a locomotive torpedo, is a self-propelled projectile that (after being launched above or below the water surface) operates underwater and is designed to detonate on contact or in proximity to a target. ... This article is about the . ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The armed forces of the United States of America consist of the United States Army United States Navy United States Air Force United States Marine Corps United States Coast Guard Note: The United States Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement functions. ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... Seal of the Air Force. ... For the film of the same name, see Strategic Air Command (film) The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. ...

Background

PBY Catalina riding to a sea anchor.

In World War II, PBYs were used as anti-submarine warfare aircraft, patrol bombers, convoy escorts, search and rescue aircraft, and transports. The Catalina can be considered the most successful aircraft of its kind, as no other flying boat was produced in greater numbers. The last active military Catalinas were not retired from service until the 1980s. Even today, over seventy years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as an airtanker in aerial firefighting operations all over the world. Image File history File links PBY_5A_Catalina. ... Image File history File links PBY_5A_Catalina. ... Anti-submarine warfare is a term referring to warfare directed against submarines. ... A patrol bomber, or patrol aircraft, is an airplane designed to operate for long times over water in an anti-shipping or anti-submarine role. ... A convoy is a group of vehicles traveling together for mutual support. ... Search and Rescue (acronym SAR) is an operation mounted by emergency services, often well-trained volunteers, to find someone believed to be in distress, lost, sick or injured either in a remote or difficult to access area, such as mountains, desert or forest (Wilderness search and rescue), or at sea... The 1980s refers to the years of 1980 to 1989. ... Bombardier CL-415 waterbomber of the Province of Québec Aerial firefighting is a method to combat wildfires using aircraft. ...

The Catalina was originally designed to be a patrol bomber, an aircraft with a long operational range intended to locate and attack enemy transport ships at sea in order to compromise enemy supply lines. With a mind to a potential conflict in the Pacific Ocean, where troops would require resupply over great distances, the US Navy in the 1930s invested millions of dollars in developing long-range flying boats for this purpose. Flying boats had the advantage of not requiring runways to take off and land, in effect having the entire ocean available as its runway. Several different flying boats were adopted by the Navy, but the PBY Catalina was the most widely used and produced. Supply lines are roads, rail, and other transportation infrastructure needed to replenish the consumables that a military unit requires to function in the field. ... The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... Runway 13R/31L of El Dorado International Airport, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia. ...

Although slow and ungainly, Catalinas distinguished themselves in World War II as exceptionally reliable aircraft. Allied armed forces used them successfully in a wide variety of roles that the aircraft was never intended for. They are remembered most by veterans of the war for their role as rescuing aircraft, where they saved the lives of thousands of aircrewmen shot down over the Pacific Ocean. The Allies of World War II were the countries officially opposed to the Axis Powers during the Second World War. ...

Prototyping and development

As American dominance in the Pacific Ocean began to face competition from Japan in the 1930s, the U.S. Navy contracted Consolidated Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft Corporation in October 1933 to build competing prototypes for a patrol flying boat.^[1] Naval doctrine of the 1930s and 1940s used flying boats in a wide variety of roles that today are handled by multiple special-purpose aircraft. The US Navy had adopted the Consolidated P2Y and Martin P3M models for this role in 1931, but both aircraft proved to be underpowered and hampered by short ranges and low maximum payloads. The United States Navy (USN) is the branch of the United States armed forces responsible for naval operations. ... The Douglas Aircraft Company was founded by Donald Wills Douglas in July 1921. ... Year 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Prototyping. ... 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1940 calendar). ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link is to a full 1931 calendar). ...

Consolidated and Douglas both delivered single prototypes of their designs, the XP3Y-1 and XP3D-1, respectively. Consolidated's XP3Y-1 was an evolution of the XPY-1 design that had originally competed unsuccessfully for the P3M contract two years earlier and of the XP2Y design that the Navy had authorized for a limited production run. Although the Douglas aircraft was a good design, the Navy opted for Consolidated's prototype because the projected cost was only $90,000 per plane.

PBY waist gunner mounting port side gun blister.

Consolidated's XP3Y-1 design (designated "Model 28" within the company) was revolutionary in many ways. The aircraft had a parasol wing with internal bracing that allowed the wing to be a virtual cantilever, except for two small streamlined struts on each side. Stabilizing floats that could be retracted in flight to form streamlined wingtips were another aerodynamic innovation. The two-step hull design was similar to that of the P2Y, but the Model 28 had a cantilever cruciform tail unit instead of a strut-braced twin tail. Cleaner aerodynamics gave the Model 28 improved performance compared to earlier designs. Image File history File links PBY_Gun_Blister. ... Image File history File links PBY_Gun_Blister. ... An amateur-built aircraft featuring a parasol wing A parasol wing monoplane is an aircraft design in which the wing is not mounted directly to the fuselage, but rather, the fuselage is supported beneath it by a set of struts. ... The cantilevered beam (green) projects from its supports (blue), balanced by the structure (red block), which supports the load (red arrow). ... A streamliner is any vehicle that incorporates streamlining to produce a shape that provides less resistance to air, and is more pleasing to the eye. ... The cruciform tail is an aircraft empennage configuration that, viewed edge-on, looks much like a cross. ... A twin tail is a specific type of vertical stabilizer arrangement found on some aircraft. ...

The powerplant for the prototype was two 825 hp (615 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-54 Twin Wasp engines mounted on the wing’s leading edges. Armament comprised four 0.30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns and up to 2,000 lb (907 kg) of bombs. Categories: Stub | Aircraft piston engines ... An engine is something that produces some effect from a given input. ... The Browning M1919 was a . ...

The XP3Y-1 had its first flight on 28 March 1935 after which it was transferred to the US Navy for service trials. The XP3Y-1 soon proved to have significant performance improvements over current patrol flying boats. The US Navy requested further development in order to bring the aircraft into the category of patrol-bomber, and in October 1935 the prototype was returned to Consolidated for further work. The work included installation of 900 hp (671 kW) R-1830-64 engines. For the redesignated XPBY-1, Consolidated introduced redesigned vertical tail surfaces. XPBY-1 had its maiden flight on 19 May 1936, during which a record non-stop distance flight of 3,443 miles (5,541 km) was achieved. March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1935 (MCMXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (140th in leap years). ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

The XPBY-1 was delivered to US Navy Squadron VP-11F in October 1936. The second squadron to be equipped was Squadron VP-12, which received the first of its aircraft in early 1937. The second production order was placed on 25 July 1936. Over the next three years, the PBY design would be gradually improved and successive models introduced. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Year 1937 (MCMXXXVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 25 is the 206th day (207th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar, with 159 days remaining. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Mass-produced U.S. Navy* variants

* An estimated 4,051 Catalinas, Cansos, and GSTs of all variants were produced between June 1937 and May 1945 for the US Navy, USAAF, United States Coast Guard, Allied nations, and civilian customers. Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) or poly (methyl 2-methylpropenoate) is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. ... A Cessna 152 with a tricycle landing gear Tricycle gear describes a kind of aircraft undercarriage, or landing gear, arranged in a tricycle fashion. ... This long range Radar antenna, known as ALTAIR, is used to detect and track space objects in conjunction with ABM testing at the Ronald Reagan Test Site on the Kwajalein atoll[1]. Radar is a system that uses radio waves to determine and map the location, direction, and/or speed... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ... The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a branch of the United States armed forces involved in maritime law enforcement, mariner assistance, search and rescue, and national defense. ...

Naval Aircraft Factory production

A radar-equipped PBY-6A Catalina in flight.

The Naval Aircraft Factory made significant modifications to the PBY design, many of which would have significantly interrupted deliveries had they been incorporated on the Consolidated production lines.^[4] The new aircraft, officially known as the PBN-1 Nomad, had several differences from the basic PBY. The most visually apparent upgrades were to the bow, sharpened and extended two feet, and to the tail, which was enlarged and featured a new shape. Other improvements included larger fuel tanks, increasing range by 50%, and stronger wings permitting a 2,000 lb (908 kg) heavier gross weight. An auxiliary power unit was installed, along with a modernized electrical system, and the weapons were upgraded with continuous-feed mechanisms.^[4] Image File history File links PBY_cat. ... Image File history File links PBY_cat. ... The Naval Aircraft Factory (NAF) was established by the United States Navy in 1918 at Philadelphia in order to assist in solving the problem of aircraft supply which faced the Navy Department upon the entry of the U.S. into World War I. The Army’s requirements for an...

The majority (138) of the 156 PBN-1s produced served with the Russian Navy. The remaining 18 aircraft were assigned to training units at NAS Whidbey Island and NAF Newport.^[5] Later, improvements found in the PBN-1 – notably, the larger tail – were incorporated into the amphibious PBY-6A. Naval Air Station Whidbey Island (NAS Whidbey) is a United States Navy air base located in two sections around Oak Harbor, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1941, just in time to become an important west coast base during World War II. The main base is located approximately three miles...

Distribution to the Allies

See also: List of PBY Catalina operators

The following are units which operated the PBY Catalina: Royal Air Force No. ...

Australia

A formation of Australian Catalinas in 1943

The Royal Australian Air Force ordered its first PBY-5 Catalinas in 1940. By the end of the war the RAAF had taken delivery of 168 Catalinas. The RAAF used Catalinas in a wide range of roles including reconnaissance and anti-submarine patrols, offensive mine-laying and air-sea rescue. In addition, RAAF Catalina aircraft were used to transport Australian personnel back to Australia at the end of the war. The RAAF retired its last Catalina aircraft in 1952.^[6] Image File history File linksMetadata 3OTU_(AWM_128145). ... Image File history File linksMetadata 3OTU_(AWM_128145). ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ...

Canada

Canada had its own close associations with the Catalina, both as a manufacturer and customer. Under an agreement reached between the Canadian and US governments, production lines were laid down in Canada, by Boeing Aircraft of Canada (as the PB2B-1) in Vancouver, and by Canadian Vickers (PBV-1) at the Canadair plant in Cartierville. Canadian aircraft were known as the “Canso”.^[3] The Boeing Company (NYSE: BA) is a leading American aircraft and aerospace manufacturer, headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, with its largest production facilities in Everett, Washington, near Seattle, Washington. ... Vancouver (pronounced: ) is a city in south-western British Columbia, Canada. ... The Vickers corporation, founded as the Vickers company in 1828, was a British manufacturer, primarily of military equipment. ... Canadair was a civil aircraft manufacturer in Canada, and formed the core of Bombardier Aerospace History Canadair was created in 1944 by the government of Canada as a manufacturer of PBY Canso flying boats for the RCAF for patrol duty. ... Saint-Laurent—Cartierville is the name of a federal electoral district in Quebec, Canada. ...

New Zealand

From 1942 New Zealand used 56 Catalinas in the South Pacific, to replace the Short Singapore with the Royal New Zealand Air Force's 5 Squadron and 6 Squadron, initially operating out of Hobsonville and Fiji on maritime patrol and air-sea rescue roles. Additional aircraft were used by 490 (NZ) Squadron in the anti submarine role during the battle of the Atlantic. 490 squadron operated Catalinas out of Jui in East Africa from 1943 until they were superseded by Short Sunderlands in 1944. When Sunderland MR Mk 5s replaced the New Zealand based Catalinas, two of the ex-RNZAF machines was transferred to TEAL for crew training - one, ZK- AMP - made pioneering air survey flights throughout the Pacific. The last RNZAF Catalinas were retired in 1953 and all had been sold or scrapped by the end of 1956.[1] [2] An airworthy Catalina in 6 Squadron markings is privately owned. [3] The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum is restoring a former fire training Catalina. The Short S. 19 Singapore name was given to developments of the original long range record breaking long range prototype. ... The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) is the air force arm of the New Zealand Defence Force. ... At the outbreak of hostilities in the Pacific, operated Short Singapores from Fiji against Japan on maratime patrol and antisubmarine duties. ... A Seasprite of No. ... Also known as 490 (NZ) Squadron, Royal Air Force Fortunate as the New Zealand squadron of the RAF which saw the least action, 490 formed 28 March 1943 with Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrew at Jui near Freetown in West Africa under Wing Commander D W Baird. ... The S.25 Sunderland was a flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers, first flown on 16 October 1937. ... Tasman Empire Airways Limited (TEAL) was the forerunner of Air New Zealand. ... The Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum is primarily a museum of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, its predecessor, the New Zealand Permanent Air Force and New Zealand squadrons of the Royal Air Force. ...

Soviet Union

The Soviet Union had shown an interest in the aircraft and this resulted in an order for three aircraft and the negotiation of a licence to build the type in Russia. When these three machines were delivered they were accompanied by a team of Consolidated engineers who assisted in establishment of the Russian production facilities. This aircraft model, designated the "GST", was powered by two Mikulin M-62 or Shvetsov ASh-621R^[7] radial engines with a power rating of 900 to 1,000 hp (671 to 746 kW) . The first of these GSTs was put into service towards the end of 1939. It is estimated that hundreds more were put into service with the Soviet navy. Russia also received 137 of the PBN-1 Nomad variant of the Catalina built by the Naval Aircraft Factory in Philadelphia along with 48 PBY-6As under the Lend-Lease Act . Radial engine of a biplane. ... The Lend-Lease program was a program of the United States during World War II that allowed the United States to provide the Allied Powers with war material without becoming directly involved in the war. ...

United Kingdom

The British Air Ministry purchased a single aircraft for evaluation purposes, the Model 28-5. This was flown across the Atlantic Ocean to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe on the East Anglian coast of England in July 1939. With the outbreak of war anticipated, the trials were terminated prematurely, and an initial 50 aircraft were ordered under the designation "Catalina I". These aircraft were similar to the US Navy's PBY-5s except for the installation of British armament. The name "Catalina" had been used by Consolidated for their commercial sales prior to the British order, and was eventually adopted by the US Navy on October 1, 1941.^[3] The Air Ministry was formerly a department of the United Kingdom Government, established in 1918 with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the (then newly formed) Royal Air Force. ... Statistics Population: 29,349 (2001 Census) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: TM306345 Administration District: Suffolk Coastal Shire county: Suffolk Region: East of England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Suffolk Historic county: Suffolk Services Police force: Suffolk Constabulary Fire and rescue: {{{Fire}}} Ambulance: East of England... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: God Save the King/Queen Capital London (de facto) Largest city London Official language(s) English (de facto) Unification    - by Athelstan AD 927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi  Population    - 2006 est. ... 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full year calendar). ... October 1 is the 274th day of the year (275th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ...

Initial deliveries of the Royal Air Force's Catalinas began in early 1941 and these entered service with No. 209 and No. 240 squadrons of Coastal Command. In all, nine squadrons of Coastal Command were equipped with the Catalina, as were an additional 12 squadrons overseas. The total acquisition was approximately 700 spread over the following designations: Catalina Mk I, Mk IA (PBY-5A amphibian in RCAF service only), Mk IB, Mk II, Mk III, Mk IVB (Canadian built PBY-5, the PB2B-1), Mk IV, and Mk VI (a PBN-1 style tall tail version built in Canada). The Catalina Mk V which would have been PBN-1s were a cancelled order. The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the air force branch of the British Armed Forces. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Coastal Command was an organization within the Royal Air Force tasked with protecting the United Kingdom from naval threats. ...

In British service the Catalina was fitted with .303 inch guns, typically a Vickers K at the front and Browning MGs in the waist positions. Some received the Leigh light to aid anti-submarine warfare by night. 203. ... The Browning M1919 was a . ... The Leigh Light (abbreviated L/L) was a British World War II era anti submarine device used in the Second Battle of the Atlantic. ...

Between 1940 and 1945 seven former RAF examples were used by BOAC (two for a Poole to Lagos service), and Qantas (five for a Ceylon to Perth service). After technical problems with the Comet, BOAC resumed jet service with imported Boeing 707s. ... Qantas (pronounced ) is the name and callsign of the worlds second oldest continuously running independent airline behind KLM. It is the 10th largest airline in the world. ...

Other nations

•  Argentina
•  Australia - Around the same time as French purchase order covered 18 aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force, some of which would be used to re-establish the British-Australian airlink through Asia (see Order of the Double Sunrise)
•  Brazil
•  Chile
•  China
•  Colombia
•  Denmark
•  Dominican Republic
•  Ecuador
•  France - Soon after the receipt of Britain's first order for production aircraft, a French purchasing mission ordered 30 aircraft in early 1940. Allocated the Consolidated identification Model 28-5MF, none of these were delivered before the Battle of France.
•  Iceland
•  Indonesia
•  Israel
•  Mexico
•  Netherlands - 48 planes were ordered by the Netherlands for use in the Dutch East Indies
•  Norway
•  Peru
•  Philippines
•  South Africa: South African Air Force
•  Uruguay

Image File history File links Flag_of_Argentina. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Australia. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Chile_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Republic_of_China. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Colombia. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Denmark. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Dominican_Republic. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Ecuador. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Combatants France United Kingdom Canada Czechoslovakia Poland Belgium Netherlands Luxembourg Germany Italy Commanders Maurice Gamelin, Maxime Weygand (French) Lord Gort (British Expeditionary Force) H.G. Winkelman (Dutch) Gerd von Rundstedt (Army Group A) Fedor von Bock (Army Group B) Wilhelm von Leeb (Army Group C) H.R.H. Umberto di... Image File history File links Flag_of_Iceland. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Indonesia_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Israel_(bordered). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Mexico. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Netherlands. ... The Dutch East Indies, or Netherlands East Indies, (Dutch: Nederlands-Indië) was the name of the colonies set up by the Dutch East India Company, which came under administration of the Netherlands during the 19th century (see Indonesia). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Norway. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Peru. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_Philippines. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_South_Africa_1928-1994. ... The South African Air Force roundel The South African Air Force (SAAF) (Afrikaans: Suid-Afrikaanse Lugmag) is the air force of South Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uruguay_(bordered). ...

Roles in World War II

The final construction figure is estimated at around 4,000 aircraft, and these were deployed in practically all of the operational theaters of World War II. The Catalina served with distinction and played a prominent and invaluable role in the war against the Japanese. This was especially true during the first year of the War in the Pacific, because the Catalina and the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress were the only two aircraft with the range necessary for these operations. As a result they were used in almost every possible military role until a new generation of aircraft became available. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is an American four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed for the U.S. Army Air Corps (USAAC). ...

Anti-submarine warfare

Catalinas were the most extensively used anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft in both the Atlantic and Pacific Theaters of the Second World War. One of their jobs was escorting convoys to Murmansk. By 1943 U-boats were well armed with anti-aircraft guns and two Victoria Crosses were won by Catalina skippers pressing home attacks on U-boats in the face of heavy fire: John Cruickshank in 1944 against U-347 and in the same year Flight Lt. David Hornell RCAF (posthumously) against U-1225. Catalinas destroyed 40 U-boats in total but suffered losses of their own. On December 7, 1941, Japanese Mitsubishi Reisen "Zero" fighters from the Akagi carrier group attacked NAS Kaneohe Bay at Oahu, Hawaii, destroying or disabling all of the 33 Catalinas stationed there. This was the first U.S. installation hit by the Japanese on that fateful day and, although the terrible imagery of the attack on Pearl Harbor weighs heavily in the historical record and serves as a powerful symbol of a nation wronged, chronology dictates that a picture of Catalinas engulfed in flames and spewing thick black smoke should serve as a legitimate alternative symbol for the opening salvo in a horrific struggle between two nations with vastly different strategies for augmenting hegemony. Combatants Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy United States Navy Kriegsmarine Regia Marina Commanders Sir Percy Noble Sir Max K. Horton Ernest J. King Erich Raeder Karl Dönitz Casualties 30,248 merchant sailors 3,500 merchant vessels 175 warships 28,000 sailors 783 submarines The Second Battle of the Atlantic... Combatants Republic of China (from 1937) Chinese Communist Party (from 1937) U.S.A. (from 1941) U.K. (from 1941) British India (1941) Australia (1941) Free France (1941) Philippines (1941) Netherlands (1941) New Zealand (1941) Canada (1941) U.S.S.R. (from 1945) Mongolia (from 1945) Empire of Japan Nanjing... Murmansk, Archangelsk, Dikson, Tiksi, on the Arctic Ocean Murmansk coin Murmansk (Russian: ) is a city in the extreme northwest of Russia (north of the Arctic circle) with a seaport on the Kola Gulf, 12 km from the Barents Sea on the northern shore of the Kola Peninsula, not far from... U-boat is also a nickname for some diesel locomotives built by GE; see List of GE locomotives October 1939. ... Victoria Cross medal, ribbon, and bar. ... John Alexander Cruickshank VC is a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... Photo submitted by Simon Manchee David Ernest Hornell, VC was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... The RCAF Roundel is based on that of the British Royal Air Force with a maple leaf, a symbol of Canada in the centre. ...

Maritime patrol

A flight of PBY-5s over the Aleutian Islands.

In their role as patrol aircraft, Catalinas participated in some of the most notable engagements of World War II. The aircraft's parasol wing and large waist blisters allowed for a great deal of visibility; this combined with its long range and endurance made it well suited for the task. Image File history File links A flight of PBY Catalinas in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. ) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links A flight of PBY Catalinas in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. ) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

• It was an RAF Coastal Command Catalina with a USN Pilot among the British crew that located the German battleship Bismarck on May 26, 1941 while it tried to evade the Royal Navy forces that would sink it within a couple of days.^[8]
• It was a flight of Catalinas that spotted the Japanese fleet approaching Midway Island, beginning the Battle of Midway.^[9]

Coastal Command was an organization within the Royal Air Force tasked with protecting the United Kingdom from naval threats. ... The German battleship Bismarck is one of the most famous warships of the Second World War. ... May 26 is the 146th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (147th in leap years). ... For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the oldest of the British armed services (and is therefore the Senior Service). ... Template:Infobox Military Conflicts The Battle of Midway was a pivotal naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II. It took place from June 4 to June 7, 1942, approximately one month after the Battle of the Coral Sea, about two months after the Japanese capture of Wake...

Night attack and naval interdiction

Several squadrons of PBY-5As and -6As in the Pacific theater were specially modified to operate as night convoy raiders. Outfitted with state-of-the-art magnetic anomaly detection gear and painted flat black, these "Black Cats" attacked Japanese supply convoys at night. Catalinas were very successful in this highly unorthodox role. Between August 1943 and January 1944, Black Cat squadrons had sunk 112,700 tons of merchant shipping, damaged 47,000 tons and damaged 10 Japanese warships. The Royal Australian Air Force also operated Catalinas as night raiders, with RAAF aircraft mounting mine-laying operations deep into Japanese-held waters. The RAAF also occasionally used Catalinas to mount nuisance night bombing raids on Japanese bases, including the major base at Rabaul. A RNZAF P-3K Orion; the magnetic anomaly dectector protrudes from the tail to minimise interference from the aircrafts avionics. ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ... 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) is the air force branch of the Australian Defence Force. ... A view from Rabaul Volcano Observatory across the relatively undamaged western half of Rabaul and towards Tavurur Rabaul, Papua New Guinea, was the headquarters of German New Guinea and then the Australian mandatory territory of New Guinea from 1910 until 1937, the base of Japanese activities in the South Pacific...

Search and rescue

A US Army Air Forces OA-10 Catalina and her crew.

Catalinas were employed by every branch of the US military as rescue aircraft. Catalinas continued to function in this capacity for decades after the end of the war. Image File history File links A US Army Air Corps OA-10 Catalina. ... Image File history File links A US Army Air Corps OA-10 Catalina. ...

Employment in peacetime

A civilian Catalina, modified for aerial firefighting.

With the end of the war, flying boat versions were quickly retired from the US Navy, but amphibious versions remained in service for many years. The last Catalina on active service for the US military was a PBY-6A operating with a Naval Reserve squadron, retired 3 January 1957.^[1] It must be noted that a PBY was being maintained at Clark AB, Republic of the Philippines as late as 1968. The Catalina subsequently equipped the world's smaller armed services, in fairly substantial numbers, into the late 1960s. Image File history File links A civilian PBY Catalina airtanker used in fighting wildfires. ... Image File history File links A civilian PBY Catalina airtanker used in fighting wildfires. ... January 3 is the 3rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ...

The USAF Strategic Air Command had PBY Catalinas (OA-10 Catalinas) in service from 1946 through 1947. Seal of the Air Force. ... For the film of the same name, see Strategic Air Command (film) The Strategic Air Command (SAC) was the operational establishment of the United States Air Force in charge of Americas bomber-based and ballistic missile-based strategic nuclear arsenal from 1946 to 1992. ...

Jacques-Yves Cousteau used a PBY-6A Catalina (N101CS) as part of his diving expeditions. His second son, Philippe Cousteau, was killed while attempting a water landing in the vicinity of Lisbon, Portugal, June 28, 1979. His plane had just been repaired when he took it out for a flight. As he landed, one of the plane's propellers separated, cut through the cockpit and killed the younger Cousteau. Jacques-Yves Cousteau in 1976. ... Philippe Cousteau was the second son of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. ... June 28 is the 179th day of the year (180th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 186 days remaining. ... For the song by The Smashing Pumpkins, see 1979 (song). ...

Of the few dozen remaining airworthy Catalinas, the majority are in use today as aerial firefighting planes. Bombardier CL-415 waterbomber of the Province of Québec Aerial firefighting is a method to combat wildfires using aircraft. ...

China Airlines, the official airline of Republic of China (Taiwan) was founded with 2 PBY Catalinas configured as amphibians. Not to be confused with Air China. ... Motto: Three Principles of the People (三民主義 San-min Chu-i) Anthem: National Anthem of the Republic of China Capital Taipei (de facto)  Nanking (de jure)1  Largest city Taipei Official languages Mandarin (GuóyÇ”) Government Semi-presidential system  - President Chen Shui-bian  - Vice President Annette Lu  - Premier Su Tseng-chang...

Catalina affair

Main article: Catalina affair

The Catalina Affair is the name given to a Cold War incident in which a Swedish military Catalina was shot down by Soviet aircraft over the Baltic Sea in June 1952 while investigating the earlier crash of a Swedish Douglas DC-3. On June 13, 1952 a Swedish military DC-3 flying over the Baltic Sea, clandestinely carrying out signals intelligence operations for the USA, disappeared east of Gotland. ... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The Baltic Sea is located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Douglas DC-3 is a fixed-wing, propeller-driven aircraft, which revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s and is generally regarded as one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made (also see Boeing 707 and Boeing 747). ...

Specifications (PBY-5A)

Data from Encyclopedia of World Air Power^[10], Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II^[3], and Quest for Performance^[11] Image File history File links from the War Department FM 30-30 or Navy Department BUAER 3 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ...

General characteristics

• Crew: 9 — pilot, co-pilot, bow turret gunner, flight mechanic, radioman, navigator, two waist gunners, tail gunner
• Length: 63 ft 10 in (19.46 m)
• Wingspan: 104 ft 0 in (31.70 m)
• Height: 20 ft 2 in (6.15 m)
• Wing area: 1,400 ft² (130 m²)
• Empty weight: 20,910 lb (9,485 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 35,420 lb (16,066 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW each) each
• Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0309

• Drag area: 43.26 ft² (4.02 m²)
• Aspect ratio: 7.73

Performance

• Maximum speed: 196 mph (314 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 125 mph (201 km/h)
• Range: 2,520 mi (4,030 km)
• Service ceiling: 15,800 ft (4,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
• Wing loading: 25.3 lb/ft² (123.6 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.034 hp/lb (0.056 kW/kg)

• Lift-to-drag ratio: 11.9

Armament

• 3× .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine guns (two in nose turret, one in ventral hatch at tail)
• 2× .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns (one in each waist blister)
• 4,000 lb (1,814 kg) of bombs or depth charges, torpedo racks were also available

The distance AB is the wing span of this Aer Lingus Airbus A320. ... In aviation, the Maximum Take-Off Weight (or MTOW) is the maximum weight with which an aircraft is allowed to try to achieve flight. ... Categories: Stub | Aircraft piston engines ... The radial engine is an internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel. ... In aerodynamics, the zero-lift drag coefficient is a dimensionless parameter which relates an aircrafts zero-lift drag force to its size, speed, and flying altitude. ... In aerodynamics, the zero-lift drag coefficient is a dimensionless parameter which relates an aircrafts zero-lift drag force to its size, speed, and flying altitude. ... The low aspect ratio wing of a Piper PA-28 Cherokee In aerodynamics, the aspect ratio is an airplanes wings span divided by its standard mean chord (SMC). ... VNO of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of normal operation. ... Airspeed Indicator in a light aircraft The VC of an aircraft is the V speed which refers to the velocity of cruising. ... The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing as limited by its fuel capacity. ... In aeronautics, the service ceiling is the maximum density altitude where the best rate of climb airspeed will produce a 100 feet per minute climb(twin engine) and 50 feet(single engine) at maximum weight while in a clean configuration with maximum continuous power. ... This page is a candidate to be moved to Wiktionary. ... In aerodynamics, wing loading is the loaded weight of the aircraft divided by the area of the wing. ... Power-to-weight ratio is a measure commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles and aircraft. ... In aerodynamics, the lift-to-drag ratio, or L/D ratio (ell-over-dee, as opposed to ell-dee), is the amount of lift generated by a wing, compared to the drag it creates by moving through the air. ... The Browning M1919 was a . ... This article is about the . ...

References

For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ...

External links

• PBY Catalina Foundation
• PBY Catalina International Association
• PBY.com
• PBY Memorial Association
• Second Emergency Rescue Squadron Memorial Page
• Lt. Nathan Gordon, PBY pilot and Medal of Honor recipient
• Catalina Group of New Zealand
• Black Cats: U.S. Navy PBY Catalinas fighting in the Pacific during WWII

[4] [[5]]

Related content

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

PBY Catalina

Related development

• PB2Y Coronado
• GST

Comparable aircraft

• Dornier Do 24
• Grumman Albatross
• Kawanishi H6K
• Short Sunderland

Designation sequence

• Navy P series: P2V - PY - P2Y - P3Y - XP4Y - P5Y - P6Y
• Navy PB series: PBM - PBY - PB2Y - PB3Y - PB4Y
• Consolidated: 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31

Related lists

• List of PBY Catalina operators
• List of flying boats

  Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... An early PB2Y-2 in flight. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Grumman HU-16E The Grumman HU-16 Albatross, is a large, twin-radial-engine amphibious flying boat. ... The Kawanishi H6K was an Imperial Japanese Navy flying boat used during World War II for maritime patrol duties. ... The S.25 Sunderland was a flying boat patrol bomber developed for the Royal Air Force by Short Brothers, first flown on 16 October 1937. ... P2V-2 Neptune over NAS Jacksonville, 1953 P2V-7 Neptune of Patrol Squadron Seven (VP-7) over the Atlantic in 1954 The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (until 1963 the P2V Neptune) was a naval patrol bomber and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft for the United States Navy between 1947 and... The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a United States Navy patrol bomber derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. ... The Convair R3Y Tradewind was a giant turboprop-powered flying boat for the United States Navy which entered service in 1954. ... A PBM-1 Mariner mariner in flight. ... An early PB2Y-2 in flight. ... The Consolidated PB3Y was a design study for a four-engine U.S. Navy patrol bomber undertaken in 1940. ... The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a United States Navy patrol bomber derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. ... An early PB2Y-2 in flight. ... The Consolidated PB3Y was a design study for a four-engine U.S. Navy patrol bomber undertaken in 1940. ... The following are units which operated the PBY Catalina: Royal Air Force No. ... ...