Difference between revisions of "Consolidated PBY Catalina"

Consolidated PBY Catalina
	Catalina A24-358
	RAAF Catalina A24-377
History
Type	Seaplane
Role	Maritime patrol bomber, search and rescue
Designer	Consolidated Aircraft team
Manufacturer	Consolidated Aircraft
Produced	2,661 in US; 620 Canada; 24 Soviet Union
Number built	4,051, with 3,031 during war time
Primary users	US Navy, US Army Air Force; TAF; RCAF; RAAF
In service	1936
Out of service	1979 (Brazilian Air Force)
	v; t; e;

Latest revision as of 18:07, 1 December 2023

Remarks

One of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II, it was used by the US Navy, US Army Air Force; TAF; RCAF; RAAF. Australian versions were the Catalina IVB and the Catalina VI. Of interest 138 of the first model, the PBN-1 were provided to the Soviet Navy.

Primary purpose was in anti-submarine warfare, both in the Atlantic and the Pacific theatres. Some also patrolled the Indian Ocean from Seychelles and Ceylon. However, the also served as convoy escorts, and they provided maritime patrols. A patrolling Catalina found the Japanese fleet approaching Midway, and saved the Royal Navy's Indian Ocean fleet, by early observation of the approaching Japanese carrier fleet. Along the way they sank 40 U_Boats.

The RAAF operated Catalinas as night raiders, with Nos 11, 20, 42, and 43 Squadrons laying mines deep inside Japanese lines to disrupt their shipping. During World War II, Qantas flew commercial passengers from Suva to Sydney and from Colombo to Perth. Post war many of the aircraft were sold to smaller nations such as Chile and Brazil, and to commercial operators.

General characteristics

Crew: Ten - pilot, co-pilot, bow turret gunner, flight engineer, radio operator, navigator, radio operator, to waist gunners, ventral gunner.
Length: 19.46 m
Wingspan: 31.70 m
Height: 6.15 m
Empty weight: 9, 485 kg
Max takeoff weight: 16,066 kg
Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engines 1,200 hp each
Maximum speed: 314 km/h
Range: 4,055 km
Service ceiling: 4,815 m
Armament
Guns: 3 x 7.62 mm machine guns; 2 x 12.7mm machine guns
Bombs:1,814 kg of bombs or depth charges

Following the Surrender of Japan in September 1945, RAAF Catalinas were used to deliver medical supplies to liberated POW camps before flying survivors back to Australia. On 30 August 1945 a flight of 9 RAAF Catalinas landed in Singapore bearing medical supplies and documents in preparation for the Japanese surrender, becoming the first allied forces to enter the island since 1942. In total, Australia operated 168 Catalinas during the war. The aircraft continued to be used in immediate post-war period, being used to assist with the repatriation of former prisoners of war from Singapore to Australia. For further aircraft details see http://www.adf-serials.com/2a24.shtml

Crew members

No. 20 Squadron RAAF

Stanley Neil Butcher 2 Feb - 25 Oct 1945

Ground Crew

No. 111 Air Sea Rescue Flight RAAF

Raymond George Bunney 13 Dec 1944 - ??/??/1945

No. 42 Squadron RAAF Melville Bay and Darwin, NT

Vernon Wallace Marsh 1944

Individual Aircraft

RAAF Catalina A24-359 Joined No. 43 Squadron on 21 May 1945, and was sold to Airmotive on 18 May 1953.

Manila to Darwin via Moratai 14 Oct 1945

Norman Lenard (Bob) Dunnell Returning POW

RAAF Catalina A24-377 Joined No. 20 Squadron on 18 Aug 1945, and following the return of POWs was transferred to the 3 OTU on 25 Jan 1946. The plane was sold to Airmotive on 18 May 1953

Manila to Darwin to Perth

Charles William (Tiny) Gray Returning POW

Darwin to Perth October 1945

Norman Lenard (Bob) Dunnell Returning POW

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{infobox aircraft
-| image           = [[File:.jpg]]
+| image           = [[File:Catalina_A24-358.jpg]]
-| caption         =
+| caption         = Catalina A24-358
-| image2          = [[File:.jpg]]
+| image2          = [[File:RAAF_PBY_Catalina_A24-377.jpg]]
-| caption2        =
+| caption2        = RAAF Catalina A24-377
 | aircrafttype    = Seaplane
 | aircraftrole    = Maritime patrol bomber, search and rescue
-| aircraftdesigner =
+| aircraftdesigner = Consolidated Aircraft team
 | aircraftmanufacturer = Consolidated Aircraft
 | aircraftproduced = 2,661 in US; 620 Canada; 24 Soviet Union
-| aircraftnumberbuilt = 3,305
+| aircraftnumberbuilt = 4,051, with 3,031 during war time
 | aircraftprimaryusers =  US Navy, US Army Air Force; TAF; RCAF; RAAF
 | aircraftinservice = 1936
@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 ==Remarks==
-One of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II, it was used by the US Navy, US Army Air Force; TAF; RCAF; RAAF
+One of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II, it was used by the US Navy, US Army Air Force; TAF; RCAF; RAAF. Australian versions were the Catalina IVB and the Catalina VI. Of interest 138 of the first model, the PBN-1 were provided to the Soviet Navy.
+Primary purpose was in anti-submarine warfare, both in the Atlantic and the Pacific theatres. Some also patrolled the Indian Ocean from Seychelles and Ceylon. However, the also served as convoy escorts, and they provided maritime patrols. A patrolling Catalina found the Japanese fleet approaching Midway, and saved the Royal Navy's Indian Ocean fleet, by early observation of the approaching Japanese carrier fleet. Along the way they sank 40 U_Boats.
+The RAAF operated Catalinas as night raiders, with Nos 11, 20, 42, and 43 Squadrons laying mines deep inside Japanese lines to disrupt their shipping. During World War II, Qantas flew commercial passengers from Suva to Sydney and from Colombo to Perth. Post war many of the aircraft were sold to smaller nations such as Chile and Brazil, and to commercial operators.
 ==General characteristics==
+*Crew: Ten - pilot, co-pilot, bow turret gunner, flight engineer, radio operator, navigator, radio operator, to waist gunners, ventral gunner.
-*Crew:
+*Length: 19.46 m
-*Length:
+*Wingspan: 31.70 m
-*Wingspan:
+*Height: 6.15 m
-*Height:
+*Empty weight: 9, 485 kg
-*Empty weight:
+*Max takeoff weight: 16,066 kg
-*Max takeoff weight:
+*Powerplant: 2 x Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp radial engines 1,200 hp each
-*Powerplant:
+*Maximum speed: 314 km/h
-*Maximum speed:
+*Range: 4,055 km
-*Range:
+*Service ceiling: 4,815 m
-*Service ceiling:
 *Armament
-*Guns:
+*Guns: 3 x 7.62 mm machine guns; 2 x 12.7mm machine guns
-*Bombs:
+*Bombs:1,814 kg of bombs or depth charges
+Following the Surrender of Japan in September 1945, RAAF Catalinas were used to deliver medical supplies to liberated POW camps before flying survivors back to Australia. On 30 August 1945 a flight of 9 RAAF Catalinas landed in Singapore bearing medical supplies and documents in preparation for the Japanese surrender, becoming the first allied forces to enter the island since 1942. In total, Australia operated 168 Catalinas during the war. The aircraft continued to be used in immediate post-war period, being used to assist with the repatriation of former prisoners of war from Singapore to Australia.  For further aircraft details see http://www.adf-serials.com/2a24.shtml
 ==Crew members==
+===[[No. 20 Squadron RAAF]]===
+* [[Stanley Neil Butcher]] 2 Feb - 25 Oct 1945
+==Ground Crew==
+===[[No. 111 Air Sea Rescue Flight RAAF]]===
+*[[Raymond George Bunney]] 13 Dec 1944 - ??/??/1945
+===[[No. 42 Squadron RAAF]] Melville Bay and Darwin, NT===
+*[[Vernon Wallace Marsh]] 1944
+===Individual Aircraft===
+'''RAAF Catalina A24-359''' Joined No. 43 Squadron on 21 May 1945, and was sold to Airmotive on 18 May 1953.
+'''Manila to Darwin via Moratai 14 Oct 1945'''
+*[[Norman Lenard (Bob) Dunnell]] Returning POW
+'''RAAF Catalina A24-377''' Joined No. 20 Squadron on 18 Aug 1945, and following the return of POWs was transferred to the 3 OTU on 25 Jan 1946.  The plane was sold to Airmotive on 18 May 1953
+'''Manila to Darwin to Perth'''
+*[[Charles William (Tiny) Gray]] Returning POW
+'''Darwin to Perth October 1945'''
+*[[Norman Lenard (Bob) Dunnell]] Returning POW
 [[category:Aircraft]]