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Aircraft · United States · 1941-1945

Consolidated PBY Catalina

patrol flying boat

A slow, long-legged flying boat, the Catalina flew the reconnaissance patrols that found the Japanese fleet approaching Midway in June 1942, giving Nimitz the warning that made the ambush possible. Its huge range and ability to land on open water made it invaluable for search, rescue and night 'Black Cat' bombing raids across the island chains. Crews pulled hundreds of downed airmen and sailors from the sea.

Wikipedia

crew8
top speed315 km/h
armament3x 7.62mm MG, 2x 12.7mm MG
range4,000 km
produced3,308

Pacific

PBY Catalina in flight
PBY Catalina in flightFilipe Sousa · Public domain · source
Flight steward Max White at work on board a Qantas Catalina aircraft en route from Suva to Sydney in January 1949, assisted by young passenger Jennifer Grey.
Flight steward Max White at work on board a Qantas Catalina aircraft en route from Suva to Sydney in January 1949, assisted by young passenger Jennifer Grey.Qantas Empire Airways (unknown photographer) · Public domain · source
Canadian Vickers PBY-1A Canso (equivalent to a Consolidated PBY Catalina) "Miss Pick Up" (reg. G-PBYA / 433915, built 1943) taxiing at Duxford Aerodrome, England.
Canadian Vickers PBY-1A Canso (equivalent to a Consolidated PBY Catalina) "Miss Pick Up" (reg. G-PBYA / 433915, built 1943) taxiing at Duxford Aerodrome, England.Julian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0 · source

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