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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 27, 2012 20:53:48 GMT 12
Having resurrected the TEAL thread, how about we look at the Cats? Starting with the RNZAF examples: Firstly, a brief summary: The Royal New Zealand Air Force was supplied with 56 Catalina's in 1943 and 1944 replacing four ex-RAF Short Singapores that had been obtained in 1941. They were registered in the range NZ4001-4056 and were 22 PBY-5s and 34 Boeing-built PB2B-1s. All were new via US Navy purchases and were flying boats (SeaCats), no amphibian models were obtained. The aircraft were operated by 6 Squadron carrying codes in the XX- sequence from Lauthala Bay in Fiji, later moving to Havalo Bay, Florida Island (near Guadalcanal). A secondary unit was 3 Operational Training Unit also at Lauthala Bay using the squadron code GF-. As aircraft numbers buit up 5 Sqn with the PA- code was then formed and operated from US base at Segond Channel, Espirito Santo. Seven Catalina's were written off in wartime accidents. Although Lend-lease aircraft were supposed to be withdrawn at the conclusion of hostilities, the US Government recognized that the RNZAF needed to continue operating water-borne aircraft after the war, and thus some RNZAF Catalinas continued to serve until the arrival of the Sunderlands in 1952/53. Lesser numbers were needed for peacetime duties, so a number of the Kiwi Catalinas were flown to RNZAF base Hobsonville and stored there awaiting either reactivation or (eventually) scrapping. Most of the following photos show these stored and derelict aircraft during this period. Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina NZ4004 was the oldest RNZAF Cat to survive the war, having arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. It was involved in an engine failure incident on flight Suva-Halavo 18Jan45, pilot F/L G A Scholes. Carrying the 6Sdn code XX-D it arrived at Hobsonville on 1946 and was book-entried as being relegated to an instructional airframe there in May 1947 as INST120. Declared surplus in 1951, broken up and scrapped at Hobsonville in 1952.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 28, 2012 18:52:25 GMT 12
PBY-5 Catalina NZ4014, arrived at Fiji 11 July 1943. Served with 6 Sdn as XX-P. Badly damaged in heavy landing Halavo Bay 6Jun44 but repaired. WFU and stored at Hobsonville postwar. Declared surplus 1951, Disposal #3795. SOC & scrapped 1952. Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina NZ4016 arrived in Fiji 13 July 1943. Served with 6 Sdn as XX-S Declared surplus 1951, Disposal #3795. SOC & broken up at Hobsonville in 1952. FYI, Alan says: "( The aerials on the wing), I'm sure is a US version of the Yagi aerial, similar to the British Mk II ASV (Air to Surface Vessels) radar. The protrusions are a diapole type aerial, horizontally polarised, which were used for transmission and receipt of signals to home in on a target. They tended to act up in the tropics from what I have read".
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2012 19:42:47 GMT 12
Unusual fin-flash on that NZ4016.
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Post by agalbraith on Nov 29, 2012 6:02:49 GMT 12
Great photos as always Peter.
Dont suppose you have any of the TEAL Cat>
Thank you for posting these pics
Cheers Anthony
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 29, 2012 7:12:55 GMT 12
TEAL Cats will come
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 29, 2012 17:01:49 GMT 12
Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina NZ4018 arrived in Fiji 20 October 1943. Served with 6 Sdn as XX-U Damaged when f/l in sea after fuel shortage 30Nov44 (where?) Repaired. Stored at Hobsonville post-war, declared surplus 1951. Disposal #3795. SOC & broken up at Hobsonville in 1952. At Lauthala BayStored at HobsonvilleBoeing PB2B-1 Catalina NZ4024 arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Served with 3OTU at Lauthala Bay as GF-B Declared surplus 1954, Disposal #76/54. SOC 1954 and sold for scrap ex-Hobsonville.
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Post by beagle on Nov 29, 2012 20:03:46 GMT 12
Just imagine if we had a huge temperature controlled shed back in those days to keep them preserved. would love to see an aerial shot of them all at hobby awaiting their sad fate
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Post by Peter Lewis on Nov 30, 2012 17:40:39 GMT 12
Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina NZ4025 arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Served with 3OTU at Lauthala Bay as GF-C Damaged in heavy landing Lauthala Bay 28Jul45, restored. Declared surplus 1951, Disposal #3796. SOC and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952. Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina NZ4026 arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Served with 3OTU at Lauthala Bay as GF-D Damaged in heavy landing Lauthala Bay 21Dec44, restored. Declared surplus 1951, Disposal #3796. SOC, broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
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Post by agalbraith on Nov 30, 2012 19:08:58 GMT 12
Awesome photos Peter, thank you!
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Post by fyl on Nov 30, 2012 19:39:39 GMT 12
Awesome photos Peter, thank you! Ditto this...great shots...and thanks for posting them.. But, like the Hudson Rukuhia thread and all the other shots of all those magnificent aircraft being put out to pasture...absolutely heartbreaking!!
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Post by ngatimozart on Nov 30, 2012 20:01:28 GMT 12
Awesome photos Peter, thank you! Ditto this...great shots...and thanks for posting them.. But, like the Hudson Rukuhia thread and all the other shots of all those magnificent aircraft being put out to pasture...absolutely heartbreaking!! Totally agree on both counts.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 1, 2012 7:24:24 GMT 12
Thank you.
A really big shed full of these old birds would indeed be very nice.
Two things occur to me: - how wartime aircraft were built with no though of durability. Our Cats were built in 1943/44 and yet some were being withdrawn from use because of corrosion problems only six or seven years later. - there must have been an enormous stack of Catalina beaching gear at Hobsonville to allow each and every redundant airframe to be kept on its own set. Or maybe they were made to order?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 1, 2012 20:02:12 GMT 12
Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina NZ4029 arrived Fiji 12 May 1944. Served with 5Sdn at Espirito Santo as PA-A Damaged on t/off East Santo 1Apr45, restored. Declared surplus 1951, Disposal #3796. SOC, broken up at Hobsonville in 1952. Espirito Santo 30Sep1945Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina NZ4032 arrived Fiji 10 June 1944. Served with 5Sdn at Espirito Santo as PA-D Damaged at mooring Funafuti 12Feb45, restored. Declared surplus 1954, Disposal #76/54. SOC and sold for scrap ex-Hobsonville. (Curious kids getting their thrill)
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 1, 2012 20:32:22 GMT 12
How did they snap that wingtip off I wonder?
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 1, 2012 21:15:20 GMT 12
Aircraft collided during the storm, probably July or early August 1949.
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Post by agalbraith on Dec 2, 2012 6:47:37 GMT 12
Fantastic Peter, and thank you Marcus!
Keep em coming this is great
Thanks Anthony
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Post by pjw4118 on Dec 2, 2012 11:27:54 GMT 12
Thanks Peter for the great pictues. Beagle you asked about aerial shot, here's three. and one thats not quite aerial
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Post by ngatimozart on Dec 2, 2012 13:01:53 GMT 12
That top image of Hobby with WP in the background. Shouldn't that be flipped left to right? Because if IIRC you were looking towards WP from that angle Greenhithe would be to the right with the arm of the inlet up towards Puhoi heading to the right past WP.
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Post by Peter Lewis on Dec 2, 2012 19:56:48 GMT 12
Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina NZ4034 arrived Fiji 15 June 1944.. Served with 5Sdn at Espirito Santo as PA-F Declared surplus 1954, Disposal #76/54. SOC and sold for scrap ex-Hobsonville. Boeing PB2B-1 Catalina NZ4035 arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Served with 5Sdn at Espirito Santo as PA-G Returned to New Zealand and stored at Hobsonville. Issued on loan to TEAL October 1947 Registered as ZK-AMI 6Oct1947 Tasman Empire Airways Ltd., Auckland Named 'Maroro', used by TEAL as crew trainer. Aircraft was later found to have extensive corrosion problems so returned RNZAF as NZ4035, ZK-AMI cancelled 26Nov1948 No further military use, stored at Hobsonville scrapped Nov48 At Hobsonville, prior to civil serviceAs ZK-AMIAfter retirement
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Post by Dave Homewood on Dec 2, 2012 20:52:54 GMT 12
It looks like Cookie Monster has been at that Sunderland tail in the last shot!
This thread is great, keep em coming.
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