As Imperial Japan’s ambitions in the Pacific grew in the early 1930s, the United States Navy contracted three aircraft companies to built them a patrol flying boat to undertake various seaborne and airborne roles. Consolidated eventually won out, and the aircraft was designated as the PBY (PB – Patrol Boat, and Y was the letter used for the manufacturer). The name “Catalina” was only used from 1942 onwards by the USAAF and the RAF, while the RCAF called her the “Canso”, following a British tradition of naming seaplanes after coastal towns (like the Sunderland). Around 3,300 PBYs were built in total, and were used in both the Pacific and Atlantic during the Second World War. Beginning service in 1936, the last Catalinas in military service were withdrawn as late as 1982, from the Brazilian Air Force; rather sweetly, the 1st Air Transport Squadron that flew them adopted the motto “Though slowly, I always get there”, with the insignia of a winged turtle.

This particular PBY is a former RCAF Canso based at Duxford aerodrome in Cambridgeshire, though she is done up in USAAF colours with the registration number 433915. Here she approaches for a flypast with her landing gear down and landing lights on, and those Twin Wasp engines in near-perfect synch. ^__^

Hope you enjoy!