421:
266:
254:, it also allowed them to accurately lay mines while flying. Four squadrons laid mines from April 1943 to July 1945 in the southwest Pacific. These operations blockaded ports and shipping routes. They also forced Japanese shipping into waters where American submarines were present. RAAF mining missions were often conducted at night to minimize the risk of interception and were hazardous, with some aircraft flying as low as 200 feet (61 m) above the surface to perform an accurate drop. These operations could last over 20 hours. In 1944 RAAF Catalinas flew missions to the Philippines and laid naval mines in
335:
158:
28:
315:), namely the Hoehn MKIII. These were used for rescue, commando raids and reconnaissance operations because the Catalinas had the advantage of being able to easily approach remote coastal regions, then crew could erect these small craft on the large horizontal wing area and load the required gear, whether it be munitions, signal or aid equipment from the large hold.
285:
Taking advantage of the long range of the aircraft, the RAAF used the
Catalina as a passenger and mail carrier during the war. The Fall of Singapore to the Japanese Army in 1942 cut Australia's air connection to Britain. To reestablish communications, an extreme range flight route was planned. Former
342:
The aircraft continued to be used in immediate post-war period, being used to assist with the repatriation of former prisoners of war from
Singapore to Australia. In 1948 No. 11 Squadron was still operating Catalinas for courier and search and rescue tasks. In April 1950 the last two aircraft were
246:
fighter and attacked. The
American pilot later stated that the red markings of the standard RAF roundel (which was still used by the RAAF at that time) confused him into believing that the aircraft was Japanese. This incident led the RAAF to remove the red from the British roundel, and in doing so
326:
camps before flying survivors back to
Australia. On 30 August 1945 a flight of 9 RAAF Catalinas landed in Singapore bearing medical supplies and documents in preparation for the Japanese surrender, becoming the first allied forces to enter the island since 1942, days before the commencement of
437:
was to
Britain." Qantas Airlines, the company that introduced the PBY to civilian service in Australia, pays tribute to the Catalinas on its website. An annual festival celebrating the Catalina and other Australian aircraft, the Rathmines Catalina Festival, is held in the town of
294:
in modified
Catalinas, a route which was at that time the longest flight path in history without refuelling. The modified Catalinas had their crews reduced to three and were loaded with extra fuel and 69 kilograms (152 lb) of diplomatic and armed forces mail. Dubbed
149:, in effect leaving the entire ocean available for landing if weather conditions permitted. Several designs for flying boats were considered, with some being developed in small numbers, but the PBY was the most widely used and produced.
276:
and a
Catalina of No. 112 Air Sea Rescue Flight RAAF in the Banda Sea, Netherlands East Indies, 23 March 1945. An engineer officer, injured in an accident, was transferred from the submarine to the Catalina by dinghy and flown to
121:, PBYs and PB2Bs (a variant built by Boeing in Canada) served as multi role bombers and scouts, the type eventually earning great renown among Australian aircrews. The motto of the Catalina squadrons was "The First and Furthest."
200:. This turn of events isolated tens of thousands of Allied soldiers and civilians from Allied controlled territories. In response, RAAF Catalinas (among other aircraft) formed a rapid evacuation service from
208:. During the last weeks of February 1942 more than 7000 people were successfully transported to Broome. Concerned with the evacuations and seeking to limit Allied bomber activity, the Japanese
1082:
137:
with a long operational range, the PBY was soon adapted to fill a multitude of roles. With war planners becoming increasingly conscious to the possibility of a future conflict in the
338:
A Catalina preparing to land in Tol
Anchorage. One of the advantages of flying boats such as the Catalina was the ability for them to land in isolated outposts too small for runways.
250:
The PBY Catalina was also employed by the RAAF as a long range bomber and mine-layer. The
Catalinas excelled in the latter role, for while their low speed made them vulnerable to
433:
The PBY Catalina remains an immensely popular aircraft in
Australia. An Australian government website's stories section maintains that "The Catalina was to Australia what the
420:
188:
and its Commonwealth, the Catalinas were pressed into a number of different roles. The initial Japanese offensives in Southeast Asia were immensely successful, with the
1077:
501:
180:
The Royal Australian Air Force ordered its first 18 PBY-5s in 1940, intending to use them for naval patrols. However, following the declaration of war on the
114:
231:
and Rabaul. On 27 June, each squadron contributed an aircraft to a four-hour raid over Lae and Salamaua during which, as well as bombs, the RAAF crews of
213:
223:
in February 1942 the Catalina squadrons became the RAAF's only offensive weapon against the Japanese. They were soon attacking Japanese targets in
971:
Black Cats: The Real Story of Australia's Long Range Catalina Strike Force in the Pacific War, Solomons to Singapore, Cairns to the Coast of China
959:
902:
409:
1072:
399:
394:
389:
1052:
978:
940:
170:
265:
1024:
883:
311:
Australian Catalinas also played an important role during the Pacific War in deploying Australian built military folboats (
404:
384:
212:
on 3 March 1942, destroying eight Catalinas along with 14 other aircraft. The attack led to a period referred to as the
145:
invested millions of dollars in the 1930s into developing flying boats. Flying boats had the advantage of not requiring
242:
flying boat. In one instance, a Catalina returning from a bombing mission was mistaken for a H6K by the pilot of a USN
414:
424:
A restored Catalina in RAAF "Black Cat" livery. The black served to camouflage the Catalina during night operations.
509:
439:
379:
278:
166:
118:
334:
701:
205:
102:
197:
918:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 1. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
579:
57:
301:, these top secret flights remain the longest-duration nonstop commercial flights at 32 hours 9 minutes.
270:
130:
62:
434:
374:
369:
363:
357:
352:
232:
33:
754:
243:
1001:
1006:
328:
319:
297:
286:
Qantas Airlines pilots were employed to fly a 5,632-kilometre (3,500 mi) nonstop route from
193:
142:
989:
1048:
1020:
974:
955:
936:
919:
898:
879:
305:
259:
189:
251:
209:
323:
262:. The motto of the crews who conducted these operations was "The First and the Furthest."
181:
174:
536:
216:, during which Catalinas were deployed to scout for a possible Japanese invasion force.
220:
185:
157:
1066:
322:
in September 1945, RAAF Catalinas were used to deliver medical supplies to liberated
312:
239:
138:
134:
69:
161:
An RAAF Catalina of No. 11 Squadron landed on a beach awaiting maintenance in 1943.
110:
27:
913:
627:
106:
50:
177:, the aircraft was commonly known as the Catalina while in Australian service.
255:
844:
923:
652:
228:
779:
304:
Like their American counterparts, Australian Catalinas were employed in
895:
Cats at War: Story of RAAF Catalinas in the Asia Pacific Theatre of War
1019:. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications.
196:
and the adoption of a policy of general withdraw being enacted by the
991:
Air Operations in South East Asia 3rd May 1945 to 12th September 1945
933:
Commando Kayak: The role of the Australian folboat in the Pacific War
291:
258:
to interdict the Japanese navy and prevent their intervention in the
146:
235:
dropped empty beer bottles to disrupt the Japanese soldiers' sleep.
32:
A Royal Australian Air Force Boeing Canada-built PB2B-2 Catalina of
419:
333:
287:
264:
156:
238:
Catalinas had a reputation for being confused with the Japanese
201:
366:
had aircraft placed on establishment, but not actually issued.
224:
331:. In total, Australia operated 168 Catalinas during the war.
113:. Over the course of the conflict it served with a number of
876:
Silent Feet: The History of 'Z' Special Operations1942-1945
605:
603:
601:
269:
Aerial photo of a rendezvous between the British submarine
559:
557:
204:
for hundreds of evacuees who were ferried to the port of
952:
Whispering Death: Australian Airmen in the Pacific War
457:
455:
827:
825:
1047:. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
734:
732:
192:in February 1942 leading to the abandonment of the
91:
86:
68:
56:
46:
41:
20:
954:. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
628:"Catalina Aircraft | Description | Specifications"
502:"Flying boats in the Second World War, 1939–45"
1083:Aircraft in Royal Australian Air Force service
897:. Roseville, New South Wales: J.R. Cleworth.
609:
8:
165:The PBY Catalina was widely utilized by the
1010:(Supplement). 13 April 1951. p. 2127.
935:. Hirsch Publishing, Zürich, Switzerland.
214:Western Australian emergency of March 1942
101:Developed as a naval patrol aircraft, the
74:A24-1 to A24-27, A24-30 to A24-68 (PBY-5),
17:
804:
688:
676:
893:Gaunt, Coral; Cleworth, Robert (2000).
702:"RAAF forced to change roundel in SWPA"
451:
308:operations to recover downed aircrews.
173:. In keeping with the trend set by the
563:
461:
1078:Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II
973:. Point Cook, Victoria: RAAF Museum.
831:
816:
749:
747:
708:. Air Power Development Centre (APDC)
496:
494:
492:
490:
7:
915:Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942
738:
622:
620:
618:
574:
572:
531:
529:
527:
488:
486:
484:
482:
480:
478:
476:
474:
472:
470:
410:No. 3 Operational Training Unit RAAF
541:Australian National Aviation Museum
586:. Australian Department of Defence
400:No. 113 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAF
395:No. 112 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAF
390:No. 111 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAF
14:
1045:The RAAF and the Flying Squadrons
247:created the modern RAAF roundel.
26:
580:"A24 Consolidated PBY Catalina"
1017:Military Aircraft of Australia
117:in a variety of roles. In the
1:
845:"Rathmines Catalina Festival"
405:Seaplane Training Flight RAAF
385:No. 8 Communication Unit RAAF
380:No. 6 Communication Unit RAAF
343:withdrawn from RAAF service.
80:A24-200 to A24-206 (PBY2B-1),
878:. Slouch Hat Publications.
849:Rathmines Catalina Festival
415:Search and Rescue Wing RAAF
347:RAAF PBY Catalina squadrons
82:A24-350 to A24-386 (PB2B-2)
78:A24-69 to A24-114 (PBY-5A),
1099:
912:Gillison, Douglas (1962).
440:Rathmines, New South Wales
167:Royal Australian Air Force
119:Royal Australian Air Force
76:A24-28 and A24-29 (PBY-4),
1073:Australia in World War II
786:. Australian War Memorial
632:www.catalinaflying.org.au
610:Gaunt & Cleworth 2000
206:Broome, Western Australia
103:Consolidated PBY Catalina
25:
21:Consolidated PBY Catalina
1015:Wilson, Stewart (1994).
874:Courtney, G. B. (2002).
706:airpower.airforce.gov.au
653:"ADF Serials – Catalina"
1043:Barnes, Norman (2000).
950:Johnston, Mark (2011).
780:"Consolidated Catalina"
198:Australian armed forces
129:Originally designed by
969:Minty, Albert (1994).
425:
339:
282:
162:
105:was a widely exported
997:. London: War Office.
931:Hoehn, J. W. (2011).
423:
337:
268:
160:
131:Consolidated Aircraft
63:Consolidated Aircraft
988:Park, Keith (1946).
726:Gillison pp. 550-551
506:www.australia.gov.au
375:No. 43 Squadron RAAF
370:No. 42 Squadron RAAF
364:No. 40 Squadron RAAF
358:No. 20 Squadron RAAF
353:No. 11 Squadron RAAF
691:, pp. 550–551.
244:Grumman F4F Wildcat
153:Operational history
42:General information
1007:The London Gazette
819:, p. 2,69,71.
657:adf-serials.com.au
426:
340:
329:Operation Tiderace
320:Surrender of Japan
298:The Double Sunrise
283:
194:Singapore strategy
163:
961:978-1-74175-901-3
904:978-1-86408-586-0
566:, pp. 82–83.
512:on 24 August 2017
306:search and rescue
260:Battle of Mindoro
190:Fall of Singapore
115:different nations
99:
98:
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508:. Archived from
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30:
18:
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1036:Further reading
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838:
830:
823:
815:
811:
803:
799:
789:
787:
778:
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773:
763:
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755:"The Catalinas"
753:
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543:
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534:
525:
515:
513:
500:
499:
468:
460:
453:
448:
431:
349:
233:No. 20 Squadron
210:attacked Broome
182:Japanese Empire
175:Royal Air Force
171:Pacific Theater
155:
127:
81:
79:
77:
75:
37:
34:No. 43 Squadron
12:
11:
5:
1096:
1094:
1086:
1085:
1080:
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1065:
1064:
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865:
862:
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836:
821:
809:
807:, p. 151.
797:
784:www.awm.gov.au
771:
759:www.qantas.com
743:
728:
719:
693:
681:
679:, p. 108.
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361:
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348:
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318:Following the
313:folding kayaks
221:Fall of Rabaul
186:British Empire
154:
151:
126:
123:
97:
96:
93:
89:
88:
84:
83:
72:
66:
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23:
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3:
2:
1095:
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1056:
1054:9781865081304
1050:
1046:
1041:
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1028:
1022:
1018:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1003:
999:published in
993:
992:
986:
982:
980:9780642202895
976:
972:
967:
963:
957:
953:
948:
944:
942:9783033017177
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866:
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846:
840:
837:
833:
828:
826:
822:
818:
813:
810:
806:
805:Courtney 2002
801:
798:
785:
781:
775:
772:
760:
756:
750:
748:
744:
740:
735:
733:
729:
723:
720:
707:
703:
697:
694:
690:
689:Gillison 1962
685:
682:
678:
677:Johnston 2011
673:
670:
658:
654:
648:
645:
633:
629:
623:
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464:, p. 83.
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245:
241:
240:Kawanishi H6K
236:
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191:
187:
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144:
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139:Pacific Ocean
136:
135:patrol bomber
132:
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914:
894:
875:
867:Bibliography
852:. Retrieved
848:
839:
812:
800:
788:. Retrieved
783:
774:
762:. Retrieved
758:
722:
710:. Retrieved
705:
696:
684:
672:
660:. Retrieved
656:
647:
635:. Retrieved
631:
588:. Retrieved
583:
544:. Retrieved
540:
514:. Retrieved
510:the original
505:
432:
341:
317:
310:
303:
296:
284:
281:, Australia.
272:
249:
237:
218:
179:
164:
128:
111:World War II
100:
58:Manufacturer
15:
1002:"No. 39202"
854:20 February
764:20 February
662:26 February
637:20 February
590:20 February
584:RAAF Museum
564:Wilson 1994
546:20 February
516:20 February
462:Wilson 1994
360:observation
107:flying boat
51:Flying boat
1067:Categories
1026:1875671080
885:0646129031
832:Minty 1994
817:Hoehn 2011
537:"Catalina"
446:References
273:Telemachus
256:Manila Bay
219:After the
125:Background
92:In service
739:Park 1946
143:U.S. Navy
95:1941–1950
790:17 March
712:15 March
435:Spitfire
252:fighters
229:Salamaua
924:2000369
184:by the
169:in the
147:runways
109:during
87:History
1051:
1023:
977:
958:
939:
922:
901:
882:
429:Legacy
292:Ceylon
279:Darwin
141:, the
70:Serial
995:(PDF)
288:Perth
133:as a
1049:ISBN
1021:ISBN
975:ISBN
956:ISBN
937:ISBN
920:OCLC
899:ISBN
880:ISBN
856:2017
792:2017
766:2017
714:2017
664:2017
639:2017
592:2017
548:2017
518:2017
271:HMS
202:Java
47:Type
324:POW
290:to
225:Lae
1069::
1004:.
847:.
824:^
782:.
757:.
746:^
731:^
704:.
655:.
630:.
617:^
600:^
582:.
571:^
556:^
539:.
526:^
504:.
469:^
454:^
442:.
227:,
1057:.
1029:.
983:.
964:.
945:.
926:.
907:.
888:.
858:.
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794:.
768:.
741:.
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666:.
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612:.
594:.
550:.
520:.
36:.
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