An interesting documentary that covers quite a bit more than the PBY Catalina's role in World War II.
It begins with a history of flight and the use of seaplanes in rescue efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard during the 20s and 30s. Many of the aviation companies moved to San Diego because of the temperate climate and fine flying weather. Consolidated moved from Buffalo, with its Gothic weather, to San Diego and relaxed. You could assemble the airplane outside in sunny dry weather.
The 30s were the period of biplanes. Consolidated drew up plans for the first single-winged flying boat. (A flying boat has a waterproofed hull and sits directly on the water, while a float plane appears to stand up on stilts with buoyant pods at the bottom.) As usual, the engine had to be mounted high in order to avoid being contaminated by spray.
Building the thing required a good deal of care. The wings were of taut canvas covered with dope. The wings were thick to provide lift and carried thousands of gallons of fuel, providing long range and flying time, exactly the requirement for a reconnaissance aircraft. Range could be increased to 4,000 miles by cutting one engine.
The metal fuselage had to be unusually strong because every marine take off and landing bounces the ship around and stresses all the joints. The result was a sleek hull that was an airplane on top and a boat on the bottom. The initial Navy order was for 60, in 1936, and they were called PB-Ys -- "PB" for patrol boat, "Y" for Consolidated.
When war broke out the British bought them and called them the Catalina. The name stuck. They were used in every theater of the war and in every imaginable role. One even managed to launch torpedoes at the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Midway.
The documentary has a narration but no talking heads, just newsreel footage of the PB-Y being built in the 30s and operating at sea. Informative and reasonably well-done paean to an important auxiliary airplane.
It begins with a history of flight and the use of seaplanes in rescue efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard during the 20s and 30s. Many of the aviation companies moved to San Diego because of the temperate climate and fine flying weather. Consolidated moved from Buffalo, with its Gothic weather, to San Diego and relaxed. You could assemble the airplane outside in sunny dry weather.
The 30s were the period of biplanes. Consolidated drew up plans for the first single-winged flying boat. (A flying boat has a waterproofed hull and sits directly on the water, while a float plane appears to stand up on stilts with buoyant pods at the bottom.) As usual, the engine had to be mounted high in order to avoid being contaminated by spray.
Building the thing required a good deal of care. The wings were of taut canvas covered with dope. The wings were thick to provide lift and carried thousands of gallons of fuel, providing long range and flying time, exactly the requirement for a reconnaissance aircraft. Range could be increased to 4,000 miles by cutting one engine.
The metal fuselage had to be unusually strong because every marine take off and landing bounces the ship around and stresses all the joints. The result was a sleek hull that was an airplane on top and a boat on the bottom. The initial Navy order was for 60, in 1936, and they were called PB-Ys -- "PB" for patrol boat, "Y" for Consolidated.
When war broke out the British bought them and called them the Catalina. The name stuck. They were used in every theater of the war and in every imaginable role. One even managed to launch torpedoes at the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Midway.
The documentary has a narration but no talking heads, just newsreel footage of the PB-Y being built in the 30s and operating at sea. Informative and reasonably well-done paean to an important auxiliary airplane.