PBY Catalina part 1

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Catalina Mk II AM269 BN-K of No. 240 Squadron RAF, Stranraer

Anchored Catalina Mk II AM269 BN-K of No. 240 Squadron RAF, Stranraer

AR-8 rescue boat attached to wing of PBY-5A 1944

AR-8 rescue boat attached to wing of PBY-5A 1944

Bob Hope and his USO Tours

Bob Hope and his USO Tours

PB2B-2 Catalina Mk VI JX637

Boeing PB2B-2 Catalina Mk VI JX637

Catalina Mk I Z2136 26 May 1941

British Catalina Mk I Z2136 26 May 1941

British Catalina P9630 over San Diego June 1939

British Catalina P9630 over San Diego June 1939

PB2B-1 Catalina Mk IVB JX286 March 1944

British PB2B-1 Catalina Mk IVB JX286 March 1944

British PBY-4 P9630 1939

British PBY-4 P9630 1939

Burning Catalina Pearl Harbor Attack

Burning Catalina during Pearl Harbor Attack

OA-10A 44 33987

Canadian Vickers OA-10A Catalina 44-33987

Canadian Vickers OA-10A Catalina 44-34038

Canadian Vickers OA-10A Catalina 44-34038 of the 1st Emergency Rescue Squadron, Foggia

Canso Catalina amphibian

Canso Catalina

Catalina „Black Cat” Philipines

Catalina "Black Cat" Philipines

PBY-5A 46572 late production December 1943

Catalina 46572 late production December 1943

PBY-5A and B-17 of the 36th BS on Adak Island 1942

Catalina and B-17 of the 36th BS on Adak Island 1942

Catalina flying out of Argentia Newfoundland ’44

Catalina flying out of Naval Air Station Argentia, Newfoundland 1944

Catalina Mk I of No 4 OTU 1941

Catalina Mk I of No. 4 (Coastal) Operational Training Unit RAF, 1941

Catalina Mk I W8406 of No. 209 Squadron RAF January 1941

Catalina Mk I W8406 of No. 209 Squadron RAF January 1941

Catalina Mk I Z2147 AX-L of No 202 Squadron RAF

Catalina Mk I Z2147 AX-L of No 202 Squadron RAF

Catalina Mk IB (PBY-5B) FP111

Catalina Mk IB (PBY-5B) FP111

Catalina Mk IIIA FP529 Prestwick

Catalina Mk IIIA FP529 amphibian in Prestwick

Catalina Mk IVB JX286

Catalina Mk IVB JX286

Catalina Mk IVB JX286 March 1944

Catalina Mk IVB JX286 March 1944 (Boeing PB2B-1)

Catalina Mk IVB JX431 of No 205 Squadron RAF Ceylon

Catalina Mk IVB JX431 of No 205 Squadron RAF over Ceylon

Catalina picks up sick sailor from submarine at sea 1943

Catalina picks up sick sailor from U.S. submarine at sea 1943

PBY-5A Catalina torpedo Loading

Catalina torpedo Loading

Catalinas of the FAW-4 Adak Island 1942

Catalinas of the FAW-4 Adak Island 1942, color photo

Catalinas of the VP-11

Catalinas of the VP-11

Catalinas of the VP-12

Catalinas of the VP-12

PBY-1 of VP-3 on nonstop flight from San Diego to Coco Solo 1937

Catalinas of VP-3 on nonstop flight from San Diego to Coco Solo 1937

Coast Guard PBY rescues downed F6F pilot

Coast Guard Consolidated PBY rescues downed F6F pilot

Coast Guardsmen load water bombs on Catalina in Argentia ’44

Coast Guardsmen load water bombs on Catalina in Argentia 1944

Consolidated OA-10 42-109024

Consolidated OA-10 42-109024

PBY-5 BuNo 08522 30 June 1943

Consolidated PBY-5 BuNo 08522 30 June 1943

Consolidated PBY-5A

Consolidated PBY-5A

PBY-5A in Gale Adak Island 1943

Consolidated PBY-5A in Gale Adak Island 1943

Crashed PBY-5A 1942

Crashed flying boat PBY-5A 1942

Crew freeing PBY-5A from ice in Alaska 1943

Crew freeing PBY-5A from ice in Alaska 1943

Crew loads practice bombs on Catalina from VP-6 at NAS Argentia 1944

Crew loads practice bombs on Catalina from VP-6 at NAS Argentia 1944

Crew of VP-6 pictured in front of a PBY December 20, 1944

Crew of VP-6 pictured in front of a PBY December 20, 1944

Crew with Catalina

Crew with Catalina

Fleet Air Wing 4 Catalina in color Aleutians ’43

Fleet Air Wing 4 Catalina in color Aleutians 1943

PBY-2 BuNo 0474

Flying boat PBY-2 BuNo 0474

Late PBY-5A Aleutian Islands

Late PBY-5A Aleutian Islands

Mechanics overhaul PBY at base in Western Australia ’43

Mechanics overhaul PBY at base in Western Australia 1943

OA-10A Catalina

OA-10A

OA-10A 44-33915 „Sophisticat” of the 5th ERS

OA-10A 44-33915 "Sophisticat" of the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron

OA-10A 44-34056 of the 2nd ERS „I’ll be Seeing You” 1944

OA-10A 44-34056 of the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron named "I'll be Seeing You" 1944

OA-10A of the 5th ERS Halesworth

OA-10A from 5th of the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron, Halesworth

OS2U and PBY-5 of the FAW-4 at Adak 1943

OS2U Kingfisher and PBY-5 of the FAW-4 at Adak 1943

PB2B-2 Catalina Mk VI JX637 2

PB2B-2 Catalina Mk VI JX637 2

PBN-1 Flying Boat of Russian Navy August 1945

PBN-1 Nomad "29" of the Russian Navy August 1945

PBN-1 Nomad of the Russian Navy 1945

PBN-1 Nomad "White 8" of the Russian Navy 1945

PBN-1 Nomad 2

PBN-1 Nomad 2

PBN-1 Nomad March 1944

PBN-1 Nomad in flight, March 1944

PBN-1 of the Soviet Navy 1945 2

PBN-1 Nomad of the Soviet Navy 1945 2

PBY 1 takes off from San Francisco Bay 1939

PBY 1 takes off from San Francisco Bay 1939

PBY 205

PBY 205

Consolidated PBY front view

PBY front view

PBY of U.S. Atlantic Air Patrol over convoy 1941

PBY of U.S. Atlantic Air Patrol over convoy 1941

PBY-1 Catalina

PBY-1 Catalina 11-P-12 of the VP-11

PBY-2 „11-P-12” of the VP-11 1936

PBY-2 "11-P-12" of the VP-11 1936

PBY-2 of the VP-11 1936 2

PBY-2 "11-P-12" of the VP-11 1936 2

Flying boat PBY-2 42-P-7 of the VP-42 Alaska

PBY-2 42-P-7 of the VP-42 Alaska

PBY-2 0454 of the VP-54 – first Navy plane with radar NAS Norfolk

PBY-2 BuNo 0454 of the VP-54 - first U.S. Navy plane with radar NAS Norfolk

PBY-2 code 10-P-5″ of the VP-10

PBY-2 code 10-P-5" of the VP-10

PBY-3 0842

PBY-3 0842

Flying boat PBY-3 BuNo 0842 October 1937

PBY-3 BuNo 0842 October 1937

PBY-4 13-P-12 BuNo 1241 of the VP-13

PBY-4 13-P-12 BuNo 1241 of the VP-13 in flight

PBY-4 Catalinas

PBY-4 Catalinas

PBY-5 1943

PBY-5 1943

PBY-5 1943 2

PBY-5 1943 2

PBY-5 Aleutian 1943

PBY-5 Aleutian 1943

PBY-5 assembly line

PBY-5 assembly line

PBY-5 Black Cat waist gun position 28 September 1944

PBY-5 Black Cat waist gun position 28 September 1944

PBY-5 bow gun position

PBY-5 bow gun position

PBY-5 bow twin gun position late

PBY-5 bow twin gun position late

PBY-5 Catalina 51P1 of the VP-51 Norfolk 1941

PBY-5 Catalina 51P1 of the VP-51 Norfolk 1941

Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina 1941

PBY-5 Catalina in flight 1941

PBY-5 Catalina Mk IVA JX247 24 May 1943

PBY-5 Catalina Mk IVA JX247 24 May 1943

PBY-5 42-P-3 of the VP-42 over Alaska August 1942

PBY-5 code 42-P-3 of the VP-42 over Alaska August 1942

PBY-5 early 1942

PBY-5 early 1942

PBY-5 during its take off run 1942

PBY-5 flying boat during its take off run 1942

PBY-5 San Francisco 1942 2

PBY-5 flying boat, San Francisco 1942 2

PBY-5 late 1942

PBY-5 late 1942

PBY-5 named „Able Mabel” bow twin gun position

PBY-5 named "Able Mabel" bow twin gun position December 1942

PBY of the VP-41 in Blizzard Cold Bay Aleutians November 1942

PBY-5 of the VP-41 in Blizzard Cold Bay Aleutians November 1942

PBY-5 of the VP-43 over Coast of Alaska August 1942

PBY-5 of the VP-43 over Coast of Alaska August 1942

PBY-5 port waist gun blister 2

PBY-5 port waist gun blister open 2

PBY-5 production line 1942

PBY-5 production line 1942

PBY-5 production line 1942 2

PBY-5 production line 1942 2

PBY-5 PTO 1942

PBY-5 PTO 1942

PBY-5 San Francisco 1942

PBY-5 San Francisco 1942

PBY-5 V-189 of the USCG October 1940

PBY-5 V-189 of the USCG October 1940

PBY-5 waist gun position

PBY-5 waist gun position

PBY-5A

PBY-5A

PBY-5A „Black 18” of the VP-63 Gibraltar 1944

PBY-5A "Black 18" of the VP-63 Gibraltar 1944

Consolidated PBY-5A of the VP-41 in Aleutian snow 1942

PBY-5A "P-5" of the VP-41 in Aleutian snow 1942

PBY-5A 118

PBY-5A 118

PBY-5A amphibian 8 March 1942

PBY-5A 8 March 1942

PBY-5A side view

PBY-5A amphibian side view

PBY-5A at NAS Daytona Beach, Florida on 20 December 1944

PBY-5A at NAS Daytona Beach, Florida on 20 December 1944

PBY-5A Black Cat Peleliu

PBY-5A Black Cat amphibian Peleliu

PBY-5A of the VPB-54 being prepared for beaching at Kossol Roads November 1944

PBY-5A Black Cat of the VPB-54 being prepared for beaching at Kossol Roads November 1944

PBY-5A Catalina

PBY-5A Catalina

PBY-5A Catalina navigators compartment

PBY-5A Catalina navigators compartment

Catalina of the FAW-4 on Attu November 1943

PBY-5A Catalina of the FAW-4 on Attu November 1943

Catalina of the VP-41 in Aleutian Snow 1942 2

PBY-5A Catalina of the VP-41 in Aleutian Snow 1942 2

PBY-5A Catalina PTO

PBY-5A Catalina PTO

PBY-5A Catalina with torpedo 1942

PBY-5A Catalina with torpedo 1942

PBY-5A cockpit 1943

PBY-5A cockpit 1943

PBY-5A cockpit 1943 2

PBY-5A cockpit 1943 2

PBY-5A code 31P8 of the VP-31 at an East Coast 1942

PBY-5A code 31P8 of the VP-31 at an East Coast 1942

PBY-5A flying boat code 4-J-9 of the VJ-4

PBY-5A code 4-J-9 of the VJ-4

Consolidated PBY-5A in flight 8 March 1942 2

PBY-5A in flight 8 March 1942 2

PBY-5A Catalina New Guinea 1943

PBY-5A named "Double Trouble" New Guinea 1943

PBY-5A of the FAW 4 over the Aleutians

PBY-5A of the FAW 4 over the Aleutians

PBY-5A of the FAW-4 after skidding off the runway at Amchillea Island in January 1944

PBY-5A of the FAW-4 after skidding off the runway at Amchillea Island in January 1944

PBY-5A of the FAW-4 and 18th FS P-40 Cold Bay 11 May 1942

PBY-5A of the FAW-4 and 18th FS P-40 Cold Bay 11 May 1942

PBY-5A of the FAW-4 at flooded Adak Island fall 1942

PBY-5A of the FAW-4 at flooded Adak Island fall 1942

PBY-5A of the VP-6 in flight over Narsarsuaq Fjord Greenland in 1945

PBY-5A of the VP-6 in flight over Narsarsuaq Fjord Greenland in 1945

PBY-5A of the VP-6 on Marston matting at Narsarsuaq, Greenland 1943

PBY-5A of the VP-6 on Marston matting at Narsarsuaq, Greenland 1943

PBY-5A of the VP-6 secured against high winds at Narsarsuaq Greenland in 1944

PBY-5A of the VP-6 secured against high winds at Narsarsuaq Greenland in 1944

PBY-5A Pacific

PBY-5A Pacific

PBY-5A Peleliu

PBY-5A Peleliu

PBY-6A BuNo 46642 February 1945

PBY-6A BuNo 46642 February 1945

PBY-6A BuNo 46642 February 1945 2

PBY-6A BuNo 46642 February 1945 2

PBY-6A Catalina

PBY-6A Catalina

PBY-6A Catalina 2

PBY-6A Catalina 2

RAF patrolling in PBY over Singapore 1941

RAF patrolling in PBY over Singapore 1941

RCAF Canso 9706

RCAF Canso 9706 Flying Boat

RCAF Canso 9750, 3 January 1942

RCAF Canso 9750, 3 January 1942

RCAF Catalina W8434 QL-F

RCAF Catalina W8434 QL-F

Refueling PBY in Aleutians ’43

Refueling PBY in Aleutians 1943

Seaplane tender hoists PBY aboard for overhaul 41

Seaplane tender hoists PBY-5 aboard for overhaul 1941

GST Black Sea VVS

Soviet GST Black Sea VVS

PBN-1 KM-2 cargo conversion 1948

Soviet PBN-1 KM-2 cargo conversion 1948

U.S. PBY-5 „White 13” at base in Western Australia 1943

U.S. Catalina "White 13" at base in Western Australia 1943

US submarine rescues crew members of PBY downed at sea 1945

US submarine rescues crew members of PBY downed at sea 1945

USAAF Catalina rescue B-17 Crew Sardinia 43

USAAF Catalina rescue B-17 Crew Sardinia 1943

USS Casco AVP-12 and PBY-5 of the FAW-4 Attu 1943

USS Casco AVP-12 and PBY-5 of the FAW-4 Attu 1943

USS Thetis Bay transporting aircraft from Pearl Harbor to NAS Alameda 8 July 1944

USS Thetis Bay (CVE-90) transporting aircraft from Pearl Harbor to NAS Alameda 8 July 1944

VP-44 PBY-5A crew that spotted Japanese approaching Midway

VP-44 PBY-5A crew that spotted Japanese approaching Midway

Wounded Marine put on PBY for transport from Bougainville

Wounded Marine put on PBY for transport from Bougainville

Wrecked Catalinas at Ford Island after Pearl Harbor Attack

Wrecked Catalinas at Ford Island after Pearl Harbor Attack

XPBY-5A BuNo 1245 over San Diego 1939

XPBY-5A BuNo 1245 over San Diego 1939

XPBY-5A 1245 over San Diego 1939 2

XPBY-5A BuNo 1245 over San Diego 1939 2

Catalina was an American flying boat and later an amphibious aircraft of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs 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 their designation was the OA-10, while Canadian-built PBYs were known as the Canso.

Design and Structure

  • Type: Twin-engined long-range patrol-bomber flying-boat.
  • Wings:
    • Configuration: Semi-cantilever high-wing monoplane.
    • Design: The wing comprises three sections, with the center-section supported above the hull by a streamlined superstructure and braced by two pairs of parallel streamlined struts to the sides of the hull. The structure utilizes a beam bulkhead and stressed-skin design, reinforced with "Z" section extruded stiffeners. The trailing-edge section has aluminum alloy ribs cantilevered from the main beam, covered with fabric. The ailerons are balanced, aluminum-alloy framed, and fabric-covered.
  • Hull:
    • Design: Two-step, semi-circular topped hull of all-metal construction, using aluminum-alloy bulkheads, framing stringers, and skin.
    • Floats: All-metal retractable wing-tip floats. When retracted, the floats form tips to the wings, with the float struts and bracing structure recessed flush with the lower surface of the wings. The mechanism for retraction is electrically and mechanically operated, with automatic locks and warning lights.
  • Tail Unit:
    • Type: Monoplane cantilever design.
    • Structure: The lower fin is integrated with the hull, while the tail-plane and upper section of the fin are covered with smooth metal sheet, reinforced with extruded sections. The elevators and rudder are aluminum-alloy structures, covered with fabric and equipped with trimming-tabs.

Power Plant

  • Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney Twin-Wasp R-1830-92 radial air-cooled engines, each producing 1,200 h.p.
  • Mountings and Cowlings: Engines are mounted on welded steel-tube structures in the leading-edge of the center-section with NACA cowlings.
  • Propellers: Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic constant-speed airscrews.
  • Fuel Tanks: Protected fuel tanks with a capacity of 1,750 U.S. gallons are located in the center-section.

Accommodation

  • Crew Areas:
    • Bow Compartment: Contains mooring gear and other equipment.
    • Pilot's Compartment: Enclosed, seating two side-by-side with dual controls.
    • Engineer's Station: Located in the hull below the center-section.
    • Gunner Positions: Two large transparent gun-blisters on the sides of the hull aft of the wings, each equipped with a Browning gun.

Dimensions and Loadings

  • Dimensions:
    • Span: 104 ft. (31.72 m)
    • Length: 63 ft. 10 in. (19.52 m)
    • Height: 18 ft. 10 in. (5.65 m)
    • Wing Area: 1,400 sq. ft. (130 sq. m)
  • Weights:
    • Empty: 17,564 lbs. (7,974 kg)
    • Loaded: 34,000 lbs. (15,436 kg)
    • Wing Loading: 24.3 lbs./sq. ft. (118.5 kg./sq. m)
    • Power Loading: 14.1 lbs./h.p. (6.4 kg./h.p.)

Performance

  • Maximum Speed: 196 mph (314 km/h) at 7,500 ft. (2,290 m)
  • Cruising Speed: 130 mph (208 km/h) at 10,000 ft. (3,050 m)
  • Stalling Speed: 76 mph (122 km/h) at sea level
  • Climb Rate:
    • To 5,000 ft. (1,525 m): 4.5 minutes
    • To 15,000 ft. (4,755 m): 16 minutes
  • Service Ceiling: 18,200 ft. (5,550 m)
  • Maximum Range: 3,100 miles (4,960 km) with 1,570 U.S. gallons of fuel at critical altitude