432:
277:
265:, 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
346:
169:
39:
326:), 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.
296:
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
353:
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
257:
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
337:
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
448:
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
305:
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
160:, 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.
287:
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
132:, 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."
211:. 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
219:. 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
1093:
148:
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
349:
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.
261:
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
444:
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
431:
199:
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
1088:
512:
191:
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
125:
242:
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
224:
234:
in February 1942 the Catalina squadrons became the RAAF's only offensive weapon against the Japanese. They were soon attacking Japanese targets in
982:
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
970:
913:
420:
1083:
410:
405:
400:
1063:
989:
951:
181:
17:
276:
1035:
894:
322:
Australian Catalinas also played an important role during the Pacific War in deploying Australian built military folboats (
415:
395:
223:
on 3 March 1942, destroying eight Catalinas along with 14 other aircraft. The attack led to a period referred to as the
156:
invested millions of dollars in the 1930s into developing flying boats. Flying boats had the advantage of not requiring
253:
flying boat. In one instance, a Catalina returning from a bombing mission was mistaken for a H6K by the pilot of a USN
425:
435:
A restored Catalina in RAAF "Black Cat" livery. The black served to camouflage the Catalina during night operations.
520:
450:
390:
289:
177:
129:
345:
712:
216:
113:
208:
929:. Australia in the War of 1939–1945. Series 3 – Air. Vol. 1. Canberra: Australian War Memorial.
590:
68:
312:, these top secret flights remain the longest-duration nonstop commercial flights at 32 hours 9 minutes.
281:
141:
73:
445:
385:
380:
374:
368:
363:
243:
44:
765:
254:
1012:
1017:
339:
330:
308:
297:
Qantas Airlines pilots were employed to fly a 5,632-kilometre (3,500 mi) nonstop route from
204:
153:
1000:
1059:
1031:
985:
966:
947:
930:
909:
890:
316:
270:
200:
262:
220:
334:
273:. The motto of the crews who conducted these operations was "The First and the Furthest."
192:
185:
547:
227:, during which Catalinas were deployed to scout for a possible Japanese invasion force.
231:
196:
168:
1077:
333:
in September 1945, RAAF Catalinas were used to deliver medical supplies to liberated
323:
250:
149:
145:
80:
172:
An RAAF Catalina of No. 11 Squadron landed on a beach awaiting maintenance in 1943.
121:
38:
924:
638:
117:
61:
188:, the aircraft was commonly known as the Catalina while in Australian service.
266:
855:
934:
663:
239:
790:
315:
Like their American counterparts, Australian Catalinas were employed in
906:
Cats at War: Story of RAAF Catalinas in the Asia Pacific Theatre of War
1030:. Weston Creek, Australian Capital Territory: Aerospace Publications.
207:
and the adoption of a policy of general withdraw being enacted by the
1002:
Air Operations in South East Asia 3rd May 1945 to 12th September 1945
944:
Commando Kayak: The role of the Australian folboat in the Pacific War
302:
269:
to interdict the Japanese navy and prevent their intervention in the
157:
246:
dropped empty beer bottles to disrupt the Japanese soldiers' sleep.
43:
A Royal Australian Air Force Boeing Canada-built PB2B-2 Catalina of
430:
344:
298:
275:
167:
249:
Catalinas had a reputation for being confused with the Japanese
212:
18:
Consolidated PBY Catalina in Royal Australian Air Force service
377:
had aircraft placed on establishment, but not actually issued.
235:
342:. In total, Australia operated 168 Catalinas during the war.
124:. Over the course of the conflict it served with a number of
887:
Silent Feet: The History of 'Z' Special Operations1942-1945
616:
614:
612:
280:
Aerial photo of a rendezvous between the British submarine
570:
568:
215:
for hundreds of evacuees who were ferried to the port of
963:
Whispering Death: Australian Airmen in the Pacific War
468:
466:
838:
836:
1058:. St Leonards, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
745:
743:
203:in February 1942 leading to the abandonment of the
102:
97:
79:
67:
57:
52:
31:
965:. Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin.
639:"Catalina Aircraft | Description | Specifications"
513:"Flying boats in the Second World War, 1939–45"
1094:Aircraft in Royal Australian Air Force service
908:. Roseville, New South Wales: J.R. Cleworth.
620:
8:
176:The PBY Catalina was widely utilized by the
1021:(Supplement). 13 April 1951. p. 2127.
946:. Hirsch Publishing, Zürich, Switzerland.
225:Western Australian emergency of March 1942
112:Developed as a naval patrol aircraft, the
85:A24-1 to A24-27, A24-30 to A24-68 (PBY-5),
28:
815:
699:
687:
904:Gaunt, Coral; Cleworth, Robert (2000).
713:"RAAF forced to change roundel in SWPA"
462:
319:operations to recover downed aircrews.
184:. In keeping with the trend set by the
574:
472:
1089:Pacific Ocean theatre of World War II
984:. Point Cook, Victoria: RAAF Museum.
842:
827:
760:
758:
719:. Air Power Development Centre (APDC)
507:
505:
503:
501:
7:
926:Royal Australian Air Force 1939–1942
749:
633:
631:
629:
585:
583:
542:
540:
538:
499:
497:
495:
493:
491:
489:
487:
485:
483:
481:
421:No. 3 Operational Training Unit RAAF
552:Australian National Aviation Museum
597:. Australian Department of Defence
411:No. 113 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAF
406:No. 112 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAF
401:No. 111 Air-Sea Rescue Flight RAAF
25:
1056:The RAAF and the Flying Squadrons
258:created the modern RAAF roundel.
37:
591:"A24 Consolidated PBY Catalina"
1028:Military Aircraft of Australia
128:in a variety of roles. In the
1:
856:"Rathmines Catalina Festival"
416:Seaplane Training Flight RAAF
396:No. 8 Communication Unit RAAF
391:No. 6 Communication Unit RAAF
354:withdrawn from RAAF service.
91:A24-200 to A24-206 (PBY2B-1),
889:. Slouch Hat Publications.
860:Rathmines Catalina Festival
426:Search and Rescue Wing RAAF
358:RAAF PBY Catalina squadrons
93:A24-350 to A24-386 (PB2B-2)
89:A24-69 to A24-114 (PBY-5A),
1110:
923:Gillison, Douglas (1962).
451:Rathmines, New South Wales
178:Royal Australian Air Force
130:Royal Australian Air Force
87:A24-28 and A24-29 (PBY-4),
1084:Australia in World War II
797:. Australian War Memorial
643:www.catalinaflying.org.au
621:Gaunt & Cleworth 2000
217:Broome, Western Australia
114:Consolidated PBY Catalina
36:
32:Consolidated PBY Catalina
1026:Wilson, Stewart (1994).
885:Courtney, G. B. (2002).
717:airpower.airforce.gov.au
664:"ADF Serials – Catalina"
1054:Barnes, Norman (2000).
961:Johnston, Mark (2011).
791:"Consolidated Catalina"
209:Australian armed forces
140:Originally designed by
980:Minty, Albert (1994).
436:
350:
293:
173:
116:was a widely exported
1008:. London: War Office.
942:Hoehn, J. W. (2011).
434:
348:
279:
171:
142:Consolidated Aircraft
74:Consolidated Aircraft
999:Park, Keith (1946).
737:Gillison pp. 550-551
517:www.australia.gov.au
386:No. 43 Squadron RAAF
381:No. 42 Squadron RAAF
375:No. 40 Squadron RAAF
369:No. 20 Squadron RAAF
364:No. 11 Squadron RAAF
702:, pp. 550–551.
255:Grumman F4F Wildcat
164:Operational history
53:General information
1018:The London Gazette
830:, p. 2,69,71.
668:adf-serials.com.au
437:
351:
340:Operation Tiderace
331:Surrender of Japan
309:The Double Sunrise
294:
205:Singapore strategy
174:
972:978-1-74175-901-3
915:978-1-86408-586-0
577:, pp. 82–83.
523:on 24 August 2017
317:search and rescue
271:Battle of Mindoro
201:Fall of Singapore
126:different nations
110:
109:
16:(Redirected from
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519:. Archived from
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1047:Further reading
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766:"The Catalinas"
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511:
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479:
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442:
360:
244:No. 20 Squadron
221:attacked Broome
193:Japanese Empire
186:Royal Air Force
182:Pacific Theater
166:
138:
92:
90:
88:
86:
48:
45:No. 43 Squadron
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
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818:, p. 151.
808:
795:www.awm.gov.au
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770:www.qantas.com
754:
739:
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692:
690:, p. 108.
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329:Following the
324:folding kayaks
232:Fall of Rabaul
197:British Empire
165:
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2:
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1065:9781865081304
1061:
1057:
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1033:
1029:
1024:
1020:
1019:
1014:
1010:published in
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991:9780642202895
987:
983:
978:
974:
968:
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953:9783033017177
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829:
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817:
816:Courtney 2002
812:
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792:
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761:
759:
755:
751:
746:
744:
740:
734:
731:
718:
714:
708:
705:
701:
700:Gillison 1962
696:
693:
689:
688:Johnston 2011
684:
681:
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475:, p. 83.
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251:Kawanishi H6K
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150:Pacific Ocean
147:
146:patrol bomber
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878:Bibliography
863:. Retrieved
859:
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823:
811:
799:. Retrieved
794:
785:
773:. Retrieved
769:
733:
721:. Retrieved
716:
707:
695:
683:
671:. Retrieved
667:
658:
646:. Retrieved
642:
599:. Retrieved
594:
555:. Retrieved
551:
525:. Retrieved
521:the original
516:
443:
352:
328:
321:
314:
307:
295:
292:, Australia.
283:
260:
248:
229:
190:
175:
139:
122:World War II
111:
69:Manufacturer
26:
1013:"No. 39202"
865:20 February
775:20 February
673:26 February
648:20 February
601:20 February
595:RAAF Museum
575:Wilson 1994
557:20 February
527:20 February
473:Wilson 1994
371:observation
118:flying boat
62:Flying boat
1078:Categories
1037:1875671080
896:0646129031
843:Minty 1994
828:Hoehn 2011
548:"Catalina"
457:References
284:Telemachus
267:Manila Bay
230:After the
136:Background
103:In service
750:Park 1946
154:U.S. Navy
106:1941–1950
801:17 March
723:15 March
446:Spitfire
263:fighters
240:Salamaua
935:2000369
195:by the
180:in the
158:runways
120:during
98:History
1062:
1034:
988:
969:
950:
933:
912:
893:
440:Legacy
303:Ceylon
290:Darwin
152:, the
81:Serial
1006:(PDF)
299:Perth
144:as a
1060:ISBN
1032:ISBN
986:ISBN
967:ISBN
948:ISBN
931:OCLC
910:ISBN
891:ISBN
867:2017
803:2017
777:2017
725:2017
675:2017
650:2017
603:2017
559:2017
529:2017
282:HMS
213:Java
58:Type
335:POW
301:to
236:Lae
1080::
1015:.
858:.
835:^
793:.
768:.
757:^
742:^
715:.
666:.
641:.
628:^
611:^
593:.
582:^
567:^
550:.
537:^
515:.
480:^
465:^
453:.
238:,
1068:.
1040:.
994:.
975:.
956:.
937:.
918:.
899:.
869:.
845:.
805:.
779:.
752:.
727:.
677:.
652:.
623:.
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561:.
531:.
47:.
20:)
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