Consolidated PBY Catalina

"OA-10" redirects here. For the forward air control aircraft, seeFairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II.

PBY Catalina
A restored OA-10 Catalina inUS Army Air Corpscolors
Role	Maritime patrol bomber,search and rescueseaplane
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Consolidated Aircraft
Built by	Boeing Canada(PB2B) Canadian Vickers(PBV) Consolidated Vultee(PB4) Naval Aircraft Factory(PBN) SovietGidrosamolet Transportnii factory atTaganrog(GST)
First flight	21 March 1935
Introduction	October 1936,United States Navy
Retired	January 1957 (United States Navy Reserve) 1982 (Brazilian Air Force)
Primary users	United States Navy United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force
Produced	1936–1945
Number built	3,308 (2,661 U.S.-built,620 Canadian-built, 27 Soviet-built)
Variants	Bird Innovator

TheConsolidated Model 28,more commonly known as thePBY Catalina(US Navy designation), is aflying boatandamphibious aircraftdesigned byConsolidated Aircraftin the 1930s and 1940s. InUS Armyservice it was designated theOA-10,in Canadian service as theCansoand it later received theNATO reporting nameMop.It was one of the most widely used seaplanes ofWorld War II.Catalinas served with every branch of theUnited States Armed Forcesand in the air forces and navies of many other nations. The last military PBYs served until the 1980s. As of 2021, 86 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as awaterbomber(or airtanker) inaerial firefightingoperations in some parts of the world.

Design and development

Background

The PBY was originally designed to be apatrol bomber,an aircraft with a long operationalrangeintended to locate and attack enemy transport ships at sea in order to disrupt enemysupply lines.With a mind to a potential conflict in thePacific Ocean,where troops would require resupply over great distances, theU.S. Navyin the 1930s invested millions of dollars in developing long-rangeflying boatsfor this purpose. Flying boats had the advantage of not requiringrunways,in effect having the entire ocean available.

Initial development

As American dominance in the Pacific Ocean began to face competition from Japan in the 1930s, the U.S. Navy contracted Consolidated,MartinandDouglasin October 1933 to build competingprototypesfor a patrol flying boat.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 U.S. Navy had adopted theConsolidated P2YandMartin P3Mmodels for this role in 1931, but both aircraft were underpowered and hampered by inadequate range and limited payloads.

Consolidated and Douglas both delivered single prototypes of their new designs, the XP3Y-1 andXP3D-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 because the projected cost was only $90,000 per aircraft.

PBY waist gunner mounting port side gun blister (1942)

Consolidated's XP3Y-1 design (companyModel 28) had aparasol wingwith external bracing struts, mounted on a pylon over the fuselage. Wingtip stabilizing floats were retractable in flight to form streamlined wingtips and had been licensed from theSaunders-Roecompany. The two-step hull design was similar to that of the P2Y, but the Model 28 had a cantilevercruciform tailunit instead of a strut-bracedtwin tail.Cleaner aerodynamics gave the Model 28 better performance than earlier designs. Construction is all-metal,stressed-skin,ofaluminumsheet, except theaileronsand wingtrailing edge,which arefabric covered.

The prototype was powered by two 825 hp (615 kW)Pratt & Whitney R-1830-54'Twin Wasp'radial enginesmounted on the wing's leading edge. Armament comprised four.30 in (7.6 mm)BrowningAN/M2 machine guns and up to 2,000 lb (910 kg) of bombs.

The XP3Y-1 had its maiden flight on 21 March 1935,after which it was transferred to the U.S. Navy for service trials. The XP3Y-1 was a significant performance improvement over previous patrol flying boats. The Navy requested further development in order to bring the aircraft into the category ofpatrol bomber,and in October 1935, the prototype was returned to Consolidated for further work, including installation of 900 hp (670 kW) R-1830-64 engines. For the redesignated XPBY-1, Consolidated introduced redesigned vertical tail surfaces which resolved a problem with the tail becoming submerged on takeoff, which had made lift-off impossible under some conditions. The XPBY-1 had its maiden flight on 19 May 1936, during which a record non-stop distance flight of 3,443mi(2,992nmi;5,541km) was achieved.

The XPBY-1 was delivered to VP-11F in October 1936. The second squadron to be equipped wasVP-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 design was gradually developed further and successive models introduced.

The aircraft eventually bore the name Catalina afterSanta Catalina Island, California;the name was coined in November 1941, as Great Britain ordered their first 30 aircraft.

PBN Nomad

TheNaval Aircraft Factorymade significant modifications to the PBY design, many of which would have significantly interrupted deliveries had they been incorporated on the Consolidated production lines.The new aircraft, officially known as thePBN-1 Nomad,had several differences from the basic PBY. The most obvious upgrades were to the bow, which was sharpened and extended by 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) increase in gross takeoff weight. An auxiliary power unit was installed, along with an improved electrical system, and the weapons were upgraded with continuous-feed mechanisms.

138 of the 156 PBN-1s produced served with the Soviet Navy, after the NAF transferred ownership via Project Zebra (1944–1945).The remaining 18 were assigned to training units atNAS Whidbey Islandand the Naval Air Facility inNewport, Rhode Island.Later, improvements found in the PBN such as the larger tail were incorporated into the amphibious PBY-6A.

Naming

The designation "PBY" was determined in accordance with theU.S. Navy aircraft designation system of 1922;PBrepresenting "Patrol Bomber" andYbeing the code assigned toConsolidated Aircraftas its manufacturer. Catalinas built by other manufacturers for the U.S. Navy were designated according to different manufacturer codes, thusCanadian Vickers-built examples were designatedPBV,Boeing CanadaexamplesPB2B(there already being aBoeing PBB),Consolidated VulteeexamplesPB4and Naval Aircraft Factory examples were designatedPBN.In accordance with contemporary British naming practice of giving seaplanes service named after coastal port towns,Royal Canadian Air Force(RCAF) examples were namedCanso,forthe town of that nameinNova Scotia.TheRoyal Air Forceused the nameCatalinaand the U.S. Navy adopted this name in 1942.TheUnited States Army Air Forcesand later theUnited States Air Forceused the designationOA-10.U.S. Navy Catalinas used inthe Pacificagainst the Japanese for night operations were painted black overall; as a result these aircraft were sometimes referred to locally as "Black Cats".

Operational history

A radar-equipped PBY-5A from VP-6(CG) over Greenland, in 1945

Roles in World War II

The PBY was the most numerous aircraft of its kind, with around 3,300 aircraft built. During World War II, PBYs were used inanti-submarine warfare,patrol bombing,convoy escort,search and rescuemissions (especiallyair-sea rescue), andcargo transport.The type operated in nearly all operational theatres of World War II. The Catalina served with distinction and played a prominent and invaluable role in the war against Japan.

These patrol planes shared with land based patrol bombers the combat roles while the very long rangeConsolidated LB-30 Liberatorand theConsolidated Coronadowere pressed into service to increase the all important logistic strategic air lift capability in the vast Pacific theater. The pairings allowed the Catalina to take on the role of eyes of the fleets at longer ranges than the floatplane scouts.

Several different flying boats were adopted by the Navy, but the PBY was the most widely used and produced.

PBY riding atsea anchor

Although the Catalina was slow and ungainly,Alliedforces used the aircraft in a wide variety of roles for which it was never intended. PBYs are remembered for their rescue role, in which they saved the lives of hundreds of aircrew downed over water. Catalina airmen called their aircraft the "Cat" on combat missions and "Dumbo"in air-sea rescue service.

The Catalina scored the U.S. Navy's first credited air-to-air "kill" of a Japanese airplane in the Pacific War. On 10 December 1941, the Japanese attacked theCavite Navy Yardin the Philippines. Numerous U.S. ships and submarines were damaged or destroyed by bombs and bomb fragments. While flying to safety during the raid on Cavite, Lieutenant Harmon T. Utter's PBY was attacked by three JapaneseMitsubishi A6M2 Zerocarrier fighters. Chief Boatswain Earl D. Payne, Utter's bow gunner, shot down one, thus scoring the U.S. Navy's first kill. Utter, as a commander, later coordinated the carrier air strikes that led to the destruction of the Japanese battleshipYamato.

The Catalina performed one of the first offensive operations against the Japanese by the US. On 27 December 1941, six Catalinas ofPatrol Squadron 101bombed Japanese shipping atJolo Islandagainst heavy fighter opposition, with four Catalinas lost.

Anti-submarine warfare

Catalinas were the most extensively used anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft in both theAtlanticand Pacific theaters of World War II, and were also used in the Indian Ocean, flying from theSeychellesand fromCeylon.Their duties included escorting theArctic convoystoMurmansk.By 1943,U-boatswere well-armed with anti-aircraft guns and twoVictoria Crosseswere won by Catalina pilots pressing home their attacks on U-boats in the face of heavy fire: Flying OfficerJohn Cruickshankof the RAF, in 1944, received the award for sinking what was believed to beU-347(although now known to have beenU-361) and in the same year RCAF Flight LieutenantDavid Hornellreceived the decoration posthumously for the sinking ofU-1225.Their aircraft was damaged in the fight before it sunk the U-boat and Hornell (with two other crew) died from exposure. Catalinas destroyed 40 U-boats, but not without losses of their own. A Brazilian Catalina attacked and sankU-199in Brazilian waters on 31 July 1943. Later, the aircraft was baptized as "Arará", in memory of the merchant ship of that name which was sunk by another U-boat.

Maritime patrol

PBY-5A ofVP-61over theAleutian Islands,1943

In their role as patrol aircraft, Catalinas participated in some of the most notable naval engagements of World War II. The aircraft'sparasol wingand large waist blisters provided excellent visibility and combined with its long range and endurance, made it well suited for the task.

AnRAF Coastal CommandCatalina flying fromCastle Archdale Flying boat base,Lower Lough Erne,Northern Ireland, located the German battleshipBismarckon 26 May 1941, some 690 nmi (1,280 km; 790 mi) northwest ofBrest.Bismarck was attempting to evade Royal Navy forces as she sought to join otherKriegsmarineforces in Brest.This sighting eventually led to the destruction of the German battleship.

On 7 December 1941, before theJapanese amphibious landings on Kota Bharu, Malaya,their invasion force was approached by a Catalina flying boat ofNo. 205 Squadron RAF.The aircraft was shot down by fiveNakajima Ki-27fighters before it could radio its report to air headquarters in Singapore.Flying Officer Patrick Bedell, commanding the Catalina, and his seven crew members became the first Allied casualties in the war with Japan.Patrol Wing 10 of theU.S. Asiatic Fleethad 44 Catalinas under its command but lost 41 within 90 days. Patrol Wing 10 also lost its mainseaplane tender,USSLangley,to Japanese aircraft during theDutch East Indies Campaignwhile it was transporting 32Curtiss P-40 Warhawkfighter planes.

A flight of Catalinas spotted the Japanese fleet approachingMidway Island,beginning theBattle of Midway.

Squadron LeaderLeonard Birchallaboard a Consolidated Catalina before being shot down and captured by the Japanese near Ceylon

A RCAF Canso flown by Squadron LeaderL.J. BirchallfoiledJapanese plans to destroythe Royal Navy's Indian Ocean fleet on 4 April 1942 when it detected the Japanese carrier fleet approaching Ceylon.

Night attack and naval interdiction

During the Battle of Midway four U.S. Navy PBYs of Patrol Squadrons 24 and 51 made a night torpedo attack on the Japanese fleet on the night of 3–4 June 1942, scoring one hit which damaged the fleet oilerAkebono Maru,the only successful American torpedo attack in the entire battle.

During theGuadalcanal campaign,some U.S. Navy PBYs were painted matte black and sent on night bombing, torpedoing, and strafing missions against Japanese supply vessels and warships, including conducting interdiction raids on theTokyo Express.These PBYs were later called "Black Cats". Subsequently, special squadrons of Black Cats were formed, commencing in December 1942 withVP-12,with an additional thirteen squadrons coming into service thereafter.Flying slowly at night, dipping to ship mast height, the Black Cats bombed, strafed, and torpedoed all kinds of Japanese vessels, sinking or damaging thousands of tons of shipping. The Black Cats also performed bombing, strafing and harassment regarding land based Japanese installations, as well as conducting reconnaissance and search and rescue operations. The Black Cat squadrons continued to be active into 1944 with thePB4Y-2beginning to come in service in greater numbers and replacing the PBYs, the last Black Cat squadrons returning to the U.S. in early 1945.

TheRoyal Australian Air Force(RAAF) alsooperatedCatalinas as night raiders, with four squadrons Nos.11,20,42,and43laying mines from 23 April 1943 until July 1945 in the southwest Pacific deep in Japanese-held waters, bottling up ports and shipping routes and forcing ships into deeper waters to become targets for U.S. submarines; they tied up the major strategic ports such asBalikpapanwhich shipped 80% of Japanese oil supplies. In late 1944, their mining missions sometimes exceeded 20 hours in duration and were carried out from as low as 200 ft (61 m) in the dark. Operations included trapping the Japanese fleet in Manila Bay in assistance of GeneralDouglas MacArthur's landing at Mindoro in the Philippines. Australian Catalinas also operated out of Jinamoc in the Leyte Gulf, and mined ports on the Chinese coast fromHong Kongto as far north as Wenzhou. Both USN and RAAF Catalinas regularly mounted nuisance night bombing raids on Japanese bases, with the RAAF claiming the slogan "The First and the Furthest". Targets of these raids included a major base atRabaul.RAAF aircrews, like their U.S. Navy counterparts, employed "terror bombs", ranging from scrap metal and rocks to empty beer bottles with razor blades inserted into the necks, to produce high-pitched screams as they fell, keeping Japanese soldiers awake and scrambling for cover.There was a Catalina base onDrimmie Headon theGove Peninsulain the Northern Territory.

Search and rescue

Search and Rescue OA-10 atUSAF Museum

Catalinas were employed by every branch of the U.S. military as rescue aircraft. A PBY piloted byLCDRAdrian Marks (USN) rescued 56 sailors in high seas from theheavy cruiserIndianapolisafter the ship was sunk during World War II. When there was no more room inside, the crew tied sailors to the wings. The aircraft could not fly in this state; instead it acted as a lifeboat, protecting the sailors from exposure and the risk ofshark attack,until rescue ships arrived. Catalinas continued to function in the search-and-rescue role for decades after the end of the war.

Early commercial use

Flight steward Max White at work on board aQantas Empire AirwaysCatalina aircraft en route fromSuvatoSydneyin January 1949 with young passenger Jennifer Grey

Further information:The Double Sunrise

Catalinas were also used for commercial air travel. For example,Qantas Empire Airwaysflew commercial passengers fromSuvatoSydney,a journey of 2,060 miles (3,320 km), which in 1949 took two days.The longest commercial flights (in terms of time aloft) ever made in aviation history were the Qantas flights flown weekly from 29 June 1943 through July 1945 over the Indian Ocean, dubbed the Double Sunrise. Qantas offered non-stop service betweenPerthandColombo,a distance of 3,592 nmi (4,134 mi; 6,652 km). As the Catalina typically cruised at 110kn(130mph;200km/h), this took from 28 to 32 hours and was called the "flight of the double sunrise", since the passengers saw two sunrises during their non-stop journey. The flight was made in radio silence because of the possibility of Japanese attack and had a maximum payload of 1,000 lb (450 kg) or three passengers plus 143 lb (65 kg) of military anddiplomatic mail.

Post-World War II employment

Civilian Catalina, modified for aerial firefighting, arrives at the Seaplane Base,NAS Whidbey Island,Oak Harbor, Washington,18 September 2009

An Australian PBY named "Frigate Bird II", an ex RAAF aircraft, registered VH-ASA, made the first trans-Pacific flight across the South Pacific between Australia andChilein 1951 by (Sir)Gordon Taylor,making numerous stops at islands along the way for refueling, meals, and overnight sleep of its crew, flown from Sydney to Quintero in Chile after making initial landfall at Valparaiso via Tahiti and Easter Island.One of six ordered by the RAAF was used as part of the air route across the Pacific from Sydney to Valparaiso, is in the collection of theMuseum of Applied Arts and Sciencesin Sydney.

With the end of the war, all of the flying boat versions of the Catalina were quickly retired from the U.S. Navy, but the amphibious versions remained in service for some years. The last Catalina in U.S. service was a PBY-6A operating with a Naval Reserve squadron, which was retired from use on 3 January 1957.The Catalina subsequently equipped the world's smaller armed services into the late 1960s in fairly substantial numbers.

The U.S. Air Force'sStrategic Air Commandused Catalinas (designated OA-10s) in service as scout aircraft from 1946 through 1947.

TheBrazilian Air Forceflew Catalinas in naval air patrol missions against German submarines starting in 1943. The flying boats also carried out air mail deliveries. In 1948, a transport squadron was formed and equipped with PBY-5As converted to the role of amphibious transports. The 1st Air Transport Squadron (ETA-1) was based in the port city of Belem and flew Catalinas and C-47s until 1982. Catalinas were convenient for supplying military detachments scattered along the Amazon. They reached places that were otherwise accessible only by helicopters. The ETA-1 insignia was a winged turtle with the motto "Though slowly, I always get there". Today, the last Brazilian Catalina (a former RCAF one) is displayed at the Airspace Museum (MUSAL) inRio de Janeiro.

PBY-6A Catalina drops a load of water from its bomb-bay

Jacques-Yves Cousteauused a PBY-6A (N101CS) to support his diving expeditions. His second son,Philippe,was killed in an accident in this aircraft that occurred on the Tagus River near Lisbon. The Catalina nosed over during a high-speed taxi run undertaken to check the hull for leakage following a water landing. The aircraft turned upside down, causing the fuselage to break behind the cockpit. The wing separated from the fuselage and the left engine broke off, penetrating the captain's side of the cockpit.

Paul Mantzconverted an unknown number of surplus Catalinas to flying yachts at his Orange County California hangar in the late 1940s and early 1950s.

OA-10A converted by Steward-Davis Inc to theirSuper Catstandard. It is additionally fitted out for survey work for Geoterrex Inc

Steward-Davis converted several Catalinas to theirSuper Catalinastandard (later known asSuper Cat), which replaced the usual 1,200 hp (890 kW)Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Waspengines withWright R-2600 Cyclone 14engines of 1,700 hp (1,300 kW). A larger, squared-off rudder was installed to compensate for the increased yaw which the more powerful engines could generate. The Super Catalina also had extra cabin windows and other alterations.

Chilean Air Force (FACH) CaptainRoberto Parragué,in his PBY Catalina FACH No. 405 called "Manu-Tara",which means Lucky Bird in the Rapanui language, undertook the first flight betweenEaster Islandand the continent of South America (from Chile), as well as the first flight toTahiti,making him a national hero of France as well as of Chile. The flight was authorized by the Chilean President in 1951, but a second flight he made in 1957 was not authorized, and he was dismissed from the Chilean Air Force.

Of the few dozen remaining airworthy Catalinas, the majority are in use asaerial firefightingaircraft. China Airlines,the official airline of theRepublic of China(Taiwan) was founded with two Catalina amphibians.

Platforms are folded out and deployed from Catalinas for use in open ocean fishing andMahi Mahitracking in the Pacific Ocean.

Possible revival

In July 2023 a company called Catalina Aircraft, current holder of the Type Certificates for the Catalina, announced an intent to build the Catalina II, a new aircraft on the basic design principles of the original Catalina but using turboprop engines and other modern aviation tools.Deliveries are said to commence by 2029.

Catalina affair

Main article:Catalina affair

Swedish Catalina after being shot down by Soviet MiG-15 fighters in June 1952. The air crew was saved by a nearby ship.

The Catalina Affair is the name given to aCold Warincident in which aSwedish Air Forcesearch and rescue/maritime patrol Catalina (Swedish designation "TP 47" ) was shot down by SovietMiG 15fighters over theBaltic Seain June 1952 while investigating the disappearance of a SwedishDouglas DC-3(later found to have been shot down by Soviet MiG-15s while on asignals intelligencemission; it was found in 2003 and raised 2004–2005).

Variants

An estimated 4,051 Catalinas, Cansos, and GSTs of all versions were produced between June 1937 and May 1945 for the U.S. Navy, the United States Army Air Forces, theUnited States Coast Guard,Allied nations and civilian customers.

US Navy

XP3Y-1

Prototype Model 28flying boatlater re-designated XPBY-1, one built (USN Bureau No. 9459). Later fitted with a 48 feet (15 m) diameter ring to detonate magneticsea mines.A 550 hp (410 kW) Ranger engine drove a generator to produce the magnetic field.

Prototype Model 28 flying boat, later re-designated XPBY-1.

XPBY-1

Prototype version of the Model 28 for the United States Navy, a re-engined XP3Y-1 with two 900 hp (670 kW) R-1830-64 engines, one built.

PBY-1 (Model 28-1)

Initial production variant with two 900 hp (670 kW) R-1830-64 engines, 60 built.

PBY-2 (Model 28-2)

Equipment changes and improved performance, 50 built.

PBY-3 (Model 28-3)

Powered by two 1,000 hp (750 kW) R-1830-66 engines, 66 built.

PBY-4 (Model 28-4)

Powered by two 1,050 hp (780 kW) R-1830-72 engines, 33 built (including one initial as a XPBY-4 which later became the XPBY-5A).

PBY-5(Model 28-5)

Either two 1,200 hp (890 kW) R-1830-82 or −92 engines and provision for extra fuel tanks (with partial self-sealing protection). 683 built (plus one built at New Orleans), some aircraft to the RAF as the Catalina IVA and one to the United States Coast Guard. The PBY-5 was also built in the Soviet Union as the GST.

XPBY-5A

One PBY-4 converted into an amphibian and first flown in November 1939.

A United States Coast Guard PBY-5A atTern Islandin 1953

PBY-5A (Model 28-5A)

Amphibious version of the PBY-5 with two 1,200 hp (890 kW) R-1830-92 engines, first batch (of 124) had one 0.3 in (7.6 mm) bow gun, the remainder had two bow guns; 803 built including diversions to the United States Army Air Forces, the RAF (as the Catalina IIIA) and one to the United States Coast Guard.

PBY-5R

The XPBY-5A converted into a staff transport, with amphibious gear and nose turret removed and additional windows added.

Japan Maritime Self-Defense ForcePBY-6A

PBY-6A

Amphibious version with two 1,200 hp (890 kW) R-1830-92 engines and a taller fin and rudder. Radar scanner fitted above cockpit and two 0.5 in (12.7 mm) nose guns; 175 built including 21 transferred to the Soviet Navy.

PBY-6AG

One PBY-6A used by the United States Coast Guard as a staff transport.

PB2B-1

Boeing Canada built PBY-5 flying boat for the RAF andRCAFfrom 1942. 240 built.

PB2B-1A

Boeing Canada built PBY-5Aamphibious aircraftfor the RCAF from 1943. 55 built.

PB2B-2

Boeing Canada version of the PBY-5 but with the taller PBN-1 fin. 67 built. Most to the RAF as the Catalina VI.

PB4-54

Consolidated Vultee version of the PBY-5A.

PBN-1 Nomad

Naval Aircraft Factory version of the PBY-5 with major modification including a 2 ft (0.61 m) bow extension, modified hull lines and step, re-designed tip floats and tail surfaces and a revised electrical system. 155 were built for delivery to the RAF as the Catalina V although 138 were Lend-Leased to the Soviet Navy as the KM-1

PBV-1A

Canadian Vickers built version of the PBY-5A, 380 built including 150 to the RCAF as the Canso "A" and the rest to the USAAF as the OA-10A.

United States Army Air Forces

USAAF OA-10 with crew

SA-10A, USAF 4th Rescue Group, Hamilton AFB, California, 1952. Sold in 1958 toCuban Air Forceas 191

SA-10A painted to resemble an OA-10A

OA-10

USAAF designation for the PBY-5A (OA = observation/amphibian). 105 built (56 transferred from the US Navy). 58 surviving aircraft were redesignated toA-10on 11 June 1948 (A = amphibian). Search and rescue versions were designatedSA-10(SA = search/amphibian).

OA-10A

USAAF designation for the PBV-1A. 230 transferred from the US Navy. Surviving aircraft were redesignated toA-10Aon 11 June 1948. Search and rescue versions were designatedSA-10A.Three additional aircraft were transferred from the US Navy in 1949 as SA-10As.

OA-10B

USAAF designation for the PBY-6A. 75 transferred from the US Navy. Surviving aircraft were redesignated toA-10Bon 11 June 1948. Search and rescue versions were designatedSA-10B.

Royal Air Force

No. 205 Squadron RAFCatalina Is being serviced atRAF Seletar,Singapore.

Catalina I

Direct purchase aircraft for the Royal Air Force,same as the PBY-5 with six 0.303 in (7.7 mm) guns (one in bow, four in waist blisters and one aft of the hull step) and powered by two 1,200 hp (890 kW) R-1830-S1C3-G engines, 109 built.

Catalina IA

Operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Canso, 14 built.

Catalina IB

Lend-lease PBY-5Bs for the RAF, 225 aircraft built.

Catalina II

Equipment changes, six built.

Catalina IIA

Vickers-Canada built Catalina II for the RAF, 50 built.

Catalina IIIA

Former U.S. Navy PBY-5As used by the RAF on theNorth Atlantic Ferry Service,12 aircraft. These were the only amphibians that saw RAF service.

Catalina IVA

Lend-lease PBY-5s for the RAF, 93 aircraft.

Boeing Canada built PB2B-1 in Canadian service as a Catalina IVB.

Catalina IVB

Lend-lease PB2B-1s for the RAF, some to the Royal Australian Air Force.

Catalina VI

Lend-lease PB2B-2s for the RAF, some to the RAAF.

Royal Canadian Air Force

Restored ex-RCAFCanso A(PBV-1A) in US Navy colors, England, 2009.

Canso

PB2B-1 flying boats for the RCAF. 17 built.

Canso A

PBV-1A and PB2B-1A amphibious aircraft produced for the RCAF (A = amphibious). 150 PBV-1A and 55 PB2B-1A built.

Canso 2F

Canso A rebuilt as unarmedcargo aircraft(F = freight). Some fitted withRebeccatransponding radar for navigation and some aircraft also carriedLORAN.

Canso 2SR

Canso A rebuilt as unarmed search and rescue aircraft (SR = search/rescue). Some fitted with Rebecca transponding radar for navigation and some aircraft also carried LORAN.

Other users

GST

Soviet designation for transport versions of the PBY-5 ( "Gydro Samoliot Transportnyi"- transport seaplane).

Swedish Air Force "TP 47" Catalina on display at the Swedish Air Force museum in Linköping, Sweden

TP 47

Swedish designation for three unarmed Consolidated Vultee PB4-54 amphibious aircraft used by the Swedish air force from 1946 to 1958 (TP = transport).These were modified withsearch radarsin the nose turret during the early 1950s.

CA-10

In the 1950s several civilian Catalinas were converted as CA-10 cargo transport aircraft, the name being derived from the USAF A-10 (C = cargo).

Steward-Davis Super Catalina ( "Super Cat" )

Catalina converted to use 1,700 hp (1,300 kW)Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14engines, with enlarged rudder and other changes.

Avalon Turbo Canso

A proposed turboprop conversion of Canso water bombers, powered by twoRolls-Royce Dartengines.

NGAA Catalina II

A proposed modernized version of the Catalina ( "Next Generation Amphibious Aircraft" ), developed by Catalina Aircraft Systems which holds ownership of the PBY-5'stype certificateas of 2023. The design has been proposed in civil and military versions.

Production

deliveries of production Consolidated variants to US Navy only

Model	Production period	Quantity
PBY-1	Sep 1936 – Jun 1937	60
PBY-2	May 1937 – Feb 1938	50
PBY-3	Nov 1936 – Aug 1938	66
PBY-4	May 1938 – Jun 1939	32
PBY-5	Sep 1940 – Jul 1943	684
PBY-5A	Oct 1941 – Jan 1945	802
PBY-6A	Jan 1945 – May 1945	175

Operators

Main article:List of PBY Catalina operators

• Argentina
• Australia
• Brazil
• Canada
• Chile
• Colombia
• Cuba
• Denmark
• Dominican Republic
• Ecuador
• France
• Greece
• Iceland
• Indonesia
• Israel
• Japan
• Mexico
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Nicaragua
• Norway
• Paraguay
• Peru
• Philippines
• South Africa
• Spain
• Sweden
• Soviet Union
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Uruguay

Surviving aircraft

Main article:List of surviving Consolidated PBY Catalinas

Specifications (PBY-5A)

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina drawing

Data fromEncyclopedia of World Air Power,Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II,Handbook of Erection and Maintenance Instructions for Navy Model PBY-5 and PBY-5A Airplanes,andQuest for Performance.

General characteristics

• Crew:8 — pilot, co-pilot, bow turret gunner, flight mechanic, radioman, navigator and two waist gunners
• Length:63 ft 10.875 in (19.47863 m)
• Wingspan:104 ft (32 m)
• Height:21 ft 1 in (6.43 m)
• Wing area:1,400 sq ft (130 m²)
• Aspect ratio:7.73
• Empty weight:20,910 lb (9,485 kg)
• Max takeoff weight:35,420 lb (16,066 kg)
  
• Zero-lift drag coefficient:0.0309
• Drag area:43.26 ft²(4.02 m²)
• Powerplant:2 ×Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,200 hp (890 kW) each
• Propellers:3-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed:196 mph (315 km/h, 170 kn)
• Cruise speed:125 mph (201 km/h, 109 kn)
• Range:2,520 mi (4,060 km, 2,190 nmi)
• Service ceiling:15,800 ft (4,800 m)
• Rate of climb:1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s)
• Lift-to-drag:11.9
• Wing loading:25.3 lb/sq ft (124 kg/m²)
• Power/mass:0.067 hp/lb (0.110 kW/kg)

Armament

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

See also

• The crash in Norway during Project ZEBRA in 1944

Related development

• Bird Innovator-- a 4 engine Catalina
• Consolidated P2Y
• Consolidated PB2Y Coronado

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Aichi H9A
• Blackburn Sydney
• Dornier Do 24
• Douglas XP3D
• Kawanishi H6K
• Latécoère 300
• Martin PBM Mariner

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II
• List of Consolidated PBY Catalina survivors
• List of flying boats
• List of PBY Catalina operators

References

Bibliography

• Best, Martin S. "The Development of Commercial Aviation in Chine: Part 21A: The Chine Airlines Group".Air-Britain Archive,Autumn 2013. pp. 107–122.ISSN0262-4923.
• Bridgeman, Leonard. "The Consolidated Vultee Model 28 Catalina."Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II.London: Studio, 1946.ISBN1-85170-493-0.
• Cacutt, Len, ed. "PBY Catalina: Ocean Patroller."Great Aircraft of the World.London: Marshall Cavendish, 1989.ISBN1-85435-250-4.
• Creed, Roscoe.PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat.Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute Press, 1986.ISBN0-87021-526-4.
• Crocker, Mel.Black Cats and Dumbos: WW II's Fighting PBYs.Huntington Beach, California: Crocker Media Expressions, 2002.ISBN0-9712901-0-5.
• Dorny, Louis B.US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Pacific War.Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2007.ISBN1-84176-911-8.
• Freeman, Elmer (1984).Those Navy Guys and Their PBY's: The Aleutian Solution.Spokane, Wash.: Kedging Publishing Co.ISBN0-9632463-0-5.
• Gaunt, Coral and Robert Cleworth.Cats at War: Story of RAAF Catalinas in the Asia Pacific Theatre of War.Roseville, NSW Australia: J.R. Cleworth, 2000.ISBN978-1-86408-586-0.
• Greenhous, Brereton et al.The Crucible of War 1939–1945: The Official History of the Royal Canadian Air Force, Vol. III.Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1994.ISBN978-0-8020-0574-8.
• Gunston, Bill (1986).American Warplanes.New York: Crown Publishers Inc.ISBN0-517-61351-4.
• Hendrie, Andrew.Flying Cats: The Catalina Aircraft in World War II.Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute Press, 1988.ISBN0-87021-213-3.
• Howard, Paul.French Pacific 'Cats': Flying-boat Services in the Pacific, 1946–1971.Air Enthusiast111, May/June 2004, pp. 38–44.ISSN0143-5450
• Howard, Paul (March–April 2001). "Island 'Cats: Commercial Catalina Operations in New Guinea, Part One".Air Enthusiast(92): 54–58.ISSN0143-5450.
• Kinzey, Bert.PBY Catalina in Detail & Scale.Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 2000.ISBN1-888974-19-2.
• Knott, Richard C.Black Cat Raiders of World War II.Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute Press, 2000.ISBN1-55750-471-7.
• Lawrence, Joseph (1945).The Observer's Book Of Airplanes.London and New York: Frederick Warne & Co.
• Legg, David.Consolidated PBY Catalina: The Peacetime Record.Annapolis, Maryland: US Naval Institute Press, 2002.ISBN1-55750-245-5.
• Miller, Nathan (1997).War at Sea: A Naval History of World War II.New York: Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-511038-8.
• "Pentagon Over the Islands: The Thirty-Year History of Indonesian Military Aviation".Air Enthusiast Quarterly(2): 154–162. n.d.ISSN0143-5450.
• Petrescu, FLorian Ion and Reilly Victoria Petrescu.The Aviation History.Stoughton, Wisconsin: Books on Demand, 2012.ISBN978-3-84823-077-8.
• Prins, François (Spring 1994). "Pioneering Spirit: The QANTAS Story".Air Enthusiast.No. 53. pp. 24–32.ISSN0143-5450.
• Ragnarsson, Ragnar.US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Atlantic War.Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2006.ISBN1-84176-910-X.
• Scarborough, William E.PBY Catalina in Action(Aircraft number 62). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1983.ISBN0-89747-149-0.
• Scarborough, William E.PBY Catalina: Walk Around.Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1996.ISBN0-89747-357-4.
• Wagner, Ray.The Story of the PBY Catalina(Aero Biographies Volume 1). San Diego, California: Flight Classics, 1972.ISBN978-0-911721-30-0.
• Wegg, John.General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors.London:Putnam, 1990.ISBN0-85177-833-X.

Further reading

• Mormillo, Frank B. (March–April 1999). "Call for Fire Attack!: A 'One-two' Formation by Mars and PBY Might Still Outclass the Modern Options".Air Enthusiast(80): 5–11.ISSN0143-5450.
• Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (2009). Núñez Padin, Jorge Felix (ed.).JRF Goose, PBY Catalina, PBM Mariner & HU-16 Albatros.Serie Aeronaval (in Spanish). Vol. 25. Bahía Blanca, Argentina: Fuerzas Aeronavales.ISBN9789872055745.Archived fromthe originalon 3 March 2016.Retrieved26 January2015.
• Pomeroy, Colin A. (July–August 2002). "Bermudian 'Boats: Snapshots of the RAF Flying-boat Era in Bermuda".Air Enthusiast.No. 100. pp. 40–45.ISSN0143-5450.

External links

• PBY Catalina FoundationArchived20 October 2017 at theWayback Machine
• (1945) AN 01-5M-3 Handbook of Structural Repair for Navy Models PBY-5, PBY-5A, PBY-6A Army Model OA-10 Airplanes
• Catalina Aircraft Trust
• Popular Mechanics,February 1943,"Here Comes The Cats"very large and detailed article
• High-resolution spherical panoramas of the restoration to 1943 WW II configuration of Catalina 2459 by the Collings Foundation
• https:// catalina.org.uk/