Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

Sometimes affectionately referred to as the “Pig Boat” by her crews, the PBY was defined by its outstanding range and endurance – but she was also incredibly slow, with a cruise speed of just 125 mph. Named for Catalina Island off California’s coast, over 3,300 PBYs were built during the war. As with all Navy aircraft, the designator PBY contains a description of the aircraft’s role, and manufacturer. In this case Patrol Bomber – with the manufacturer code “Y” representing the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.

During the war, Catalinas hunted enemy submarines, transported personnel, escorted convoys, conducted air-sea rescue missions and filled many other roles, including night-time attack. These attack aircraft were known as Black Cats due to their overall black paint schemes; they played an important role intercepting the so-called Tokyo Express – Japanese cargo convoys which resupplied their numerous Pacific island outposts by night. 

The Museum’s “Cat” (BuNo. 48294) entered US Navy service in October 1943 and enjoyed an extensive career which took her halfway around the world. Flown from the San Diego, California factory where she was built to her first base in Norfolk, Virginia, our Catalina’s first assignment was with VPB-92. Her missions took her to French Morocco, the Canary Islands, Gibraltar, and the Azores, hunting German submarines in the late-war years. The airplane remained in naval service following WWII, but on loan to the U.S. Coast Guard. She finally retired in 1956 with 3,567 flying hours on the airframe. The museum obtained the PBY in 2001.