Consolidated Canso /Catalina

BY: Bill Coffman

Consolidated PBY 5A Canso

Consolidated's first PBY flying-boat prototype made its maiden flight in 1933. Overall, there were 3431 PBY's, of which 2029 were flying boats (e.g., PBY-5 Catalina) and 1402 were amphibians (e.g., PBY-5A Canso). More
Consolidated PBYs were manufactured than any other type of flying boat or amphibian.

The RCAF chose the PBY-5A in 1939 as its replacement for the Supermarine Stranraer. During World War II, Boeing Aircraft of Canada, Canadian Vickers and Canadair Ltd. made almost 800 PBY's in this country. The RCAF called its version the 'Canso A' - A for amphibious.

Canadian Vickers manufactured CWH's PBY-5A in 1944. It served with the RCAF until 1961 when it was sold as surplus. The Canso is restored in the colours and markings of 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron and dedicated to the memory of Flight Lieutenant David Hornell, VC, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. On 24 June 1944 he and his crew bombed and sank U-1225. Sadly, the Germans shot down the Canso A, and Hornell and his crew spent more than twenty hours afloat on the ocean before being rescued. Hornell died shortly afterward. Acquisition in 1995 of the CWH Canso was made possible by generous donations from Canadian Resident Abroad Inc. and the Beamish Family.

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Canso, C-FPQL, was donated to the Museum several years ago,and was flown in, still in its Provence de Quebec Water Bomber colours. Since then it has been re-painted in wartime RCAF colours. These photos were taken shortly after it arrived and during an inspection.
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When the National Warplane Museum moved from Geneseo to Elmira, they left behind their PBY-6A, because there was a major problem with the front landing gear. It has since ben moved to Elmira, and is stored behind the new Museum building as can be seen in the last (Digital) photo.

All of the other photos of this machine, including the interior shots, were taken at various airshows back when there were Airshows. The ones at Geneseo and Batavia were among the best, because there was good access to the aircraft, and some great flying displays, including the famous Pumpkin Bombing Run.

Click on thumbnails to enlargen

Another product of the aircraft industry in Buffalo, the XP3Y was designed and built in Consolidated's Buffalo plant from 1933 to 1925. The prototype was shipped to Norfolk for its first flight, because of the potential for
ice build-up in the Niagara river in front of the plant. The first flight of the new Boat was made in March 1935.
 

The US Navy ordered 60 of the aircraft as the PBY-1, reflecting its capacity as a bomber. Production was initiated at the new Consolidated plant in San Diego. The first export order came from Russia. The aircraft went through
the usual designation changes with further orders, with 50 PBY-2s and 66 PBY-3s. This version had 900 HP P&W R-1830-66 engines replacing the 850HP P&W R-1830-64s along with minor changes to the horizontal tail and
elevators.. Thirty-three PBY-4s were ordered in 1937 with R-1830-72 engines.
 

The PBY-5 was the first version with the blisters for the waist gunner's position. A revised rudder and horizontal tail were adopted, and the engines were upgraded to R-1830-82s . The Navy ordered 200, but with the start of WW-2, export orders were recieved from the British, the Dutch, France (Delivered to Britain), Australia and Canada. The PBY-5A was developed as an amphibian version of the PBY which was assembled as the Canso A by Canadian Boeing in Vancouver, and later by Canadian Vickers in Montreal. The PBY-6 was the last production version with the modifications noted previously.