Consolidated PBY Catalina

The United States Navy were looking for a new aircraft to replace the Consolidated P2Y and Martin P3M currently in service. The new aircraft was to have a greater range and increased bomb load and in October 1933 Consolidated and Douglas were both given a contract to build a prototype. Only one prototype of the Douglas XP3D-1 was produced, with Consolidated's XP3Y-1, also known as the Model 28, chosen to be developed.

Making its maiden flight on the 21st March 1935, the XP3Y-1 was powered by the 825-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-54 Twin Wasp engine and would normally have a crew of eight, made up of pilot, co-pilot, bow turret gunner, flight mechanic, radio man, navigator and two waist gunners.. To reduce drag, the stabilising floats on the aircraft could be retracted, becoming part of the wing. The XP3Y-1 would undergo service trials with the United States Navy, these showed increased performance over patrol flying boats currently being used. This would lead the USN to want Consolidated to develop the aircraft into a patrol bomber and on the 29th June 1935 the USN placed an order for sixty PBY-1s.

Now known as the XPBY-1, and featuring a number of changes, the prototype flew on the 19th May 1936. Powered by the 900-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp engine, the PBY-1 had a top speed of 177 mph, a range of 2,040 miles and a service ceiling of 21,000 ft. Armament consisted of four 0.30-in machine-guns and bomb load was either 4,000lb bombs or depth charges. These began to enter service with the USN in October 1936.

Ordered on the 25th July 1936, the PBY-2 featured minor improvements. Powered by the 900-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp engine, its top speed was 178 mph, range 2,020 miles with a service ceiling of 20,800 ft. Armament was two 0.50-in machine-guns and two 0.30-in machine-guns. Bomb load was either 4,000lb bombs or depth charges.

An order for PBY-3s was placed on the 27th November 1936. These would be powered by the 1,000-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1870-66 Twin Wasp engine, giving the aircraft a top speed of 191 mph, a range of 2,050 miles and a service ceiling of 24,200 ft. Armament consisted of two 0.50-in machine-guns and two 0.30-in machine-guns. Bomb load was either 4,000lb bombs, depth charges or torpedoes.

The next variant was the PBY-4, which would feature the distinctive transparent blisters, with the 18th December 1937 seeing an order for the aircraft placed. Powered by the 1,050-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-72 Twin Wasp engine, its top speed was 198 mph, range 2,170 miles with a service ceiling of 25,400 ft. Armament was two 0.50-in machine-guns and two 0.30-in machine-guns and bomb load was either 4,000lb bombs, depth charges or torpedoes.

The PBY-5 followed and was powered by the 1,200-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp engine, giving the aircraft a top speed of 196 mph, a range of 2,520 miles and a service ceiling of 18,200 ft. Armament consisted of two 0.50-in machine-guns and three 0.30-in machine-guns. Bomb load was either 4,000lb bombs, depth charges or torpedoes. An amphibious version of the PBY-5 was also produced, this was a result of modifications to a PBY-4 sent back to Consolidated in April 1939, with the work finishing in November 1939, and the aircraft now known as the XPBY-5A. After testing, the United States Navy ordered over 100 PBY-5As on the 25th November 1940, and these would enter service during the later part of 1941. It was also during 1941 when the USN adopted Consolidated's name for the aircraft, Catalina.

After the PBY had been in service it was felt that the aircraft would benefit from hydrodynamic improvement of the hull, designated PBN-1 Nomad, this was the result of research and development by the Naval Aircraft Factory. So that production of the PBY would not be disrupted, these were modified aircraft.

The PBY-6A, which was the final production version, incorporated all of the changes introduced to the PBN-1 Nomad and was powered by the 1,200-hp Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp engine. It had a top speed of 178 mph, range of 2,535 miles with a service ceiling of 14,900 ft. Armament was four 0.50-in machine-guns and one 0.30-in machine-gun. Bomb load was either 4,000lb or depth charges or torpedoes. It was produced from April 1944.

The 'Black Cats' were PBY's painted black and used to attack Japanese supply convoys at night and they proved successful in this role. It was while with the "Black Cats" that Lieutenant Nathan Gordon received the Medal of Honor, when on the 15th February 1944, despite under heavy fire, fifteen airmen were rescued by Lieutenant Gordon's PBY.

Catalinas would serve with the Royal Air Force, with a Catalina being sent to the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment during July 1939, however, due to the outbreak of war, trials were ended early, but an order for fifty aircraft was placed, these being fitted with British armament. These would enter service in the early part of 1941 with Coastal Command. One early exploit for the Catalina came when an aircraft of No. 209 Squadron found the German battleship Bismarck on the 26th May 1941, after initial surface contact was lost. It was then a Catalina of No. 240 Squadron which shadowed the Battleship until surface contact was re-established.

The PBY would also serve with the United States Army Air Force, designated OA-10 and PBY-5s designated G8T would serve with the Soviet Union. The Royal Canadian Air Force were also equipped with the type, known as the Canso, and the Royal Australian Air Force. The Dutch Government also ordered PBYs for use in the Netherlands East Indies and out of thirty six delivered only nine were able to take-off before capture after the Japanese invasion.

The PBY made a vital contribution in the Battle of the Atlantic and it was a Catalina that sunk the final U-boat claimed by Coastal Command, which amounted to 196. As well as serving in the Atlantic PBYs would also serve in the Pacific theatre of war and play a vital role in patrolling the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.

When the war ended, the flying boat versions with the United States Navy were quickly phased out of service, although the PBY would be used during the Berlin Airlift (26th June 1948 – 30th September 1949), and it wasn't until the 3rd January 1957 when the last PBY, an amphibious version, was retired.

In total 3,305 PBYs were built.