RNZAF Catalina Damaged and Repaired In The Air
Mar 9, 2019 14:52:38 GMT 12
skyhawkdon, flyinkiwi, and 2 more like this
Post by Dave Homewood on Mar 9, 2019 14:52:38 GMT 12
An interesting article from the NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9 MARCH 1944. It reminds me of the Sunderland that also got repaired in the air in 1959.
REPAIRS IN AIR
DAMAGED CATALINA
NEW ZEALAND CREW'S WORK
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) GUADALCANAL, March 7
With a gash 17ft. long and 8in. wide torn in its hull through striking a buoy when taking off from its base in the Solomons, an R.N.Z.A.F. Catalina was marooned aloft for eight and a-quarter hours while the crew worked hard to patch it sufficiently to make a safe landing.
The flying-boat was fully laden, and the mishap occurred just as it was lifting into the air. The hole ran ahead of the front step right down the hull to the after step and, coming down in that condition, the Catalina would have sunk in a trice.
Landing on an aerodrome or close inshore so as to run up on a beach would probably have wiped off the aircraft, so the captain decided to make repairs with what material the crew could lay their hands-on, which would stop the water making too fast while additional flotation gear was brought alongside.
Canvas was cut from bunks and laid over the gash, and this was fallowed by part of a sleeping bag. Then a metal plate was cut from the catwalks with a hacksaw, until the one and only blade snapped, and a hammer and screwdriver had to be used. This was forced down and held by odds and ends such as spanners, tommy bars, hammers and files until the job appeared at least as strong as the original hull plate, if not as waterproof. Cotton waste dipped in oil was rammed around the edges of the repair to pack it solidly. The blister compartment was more of a problem because of the very curved shape of the hull. Here a plywood kitchen table was used with canvas and sleeping bags underneath. All this took about six hours.
To give greater flotation if water entered faster than expected, the seven-man dinghy was inflated in the blister and lashed down, and a two-man dinghy was lashed down in the living compartment.
Preparations were then made for alighting. The aircraft was taken up to a safe height. Parachute harness and packs were donned, fuel was jettisoned until only 100 gallons remained, and ammunition was dumped. By radio it was arranged with the aviation tender to have several large rubber dinghies standing by. All boat traffic on the harbour was stopped, as several craft travelling at high speed were setting up a bad chop.
Then the Catalina came in on normal approach and landed close to the tender. When near a group of boats standing by, the throttle was closed and the aircraft, settled back, and it began to make water faster than could be handled by the bilge pumps, but not dangerously. By the time, the dinghies were alongside, the water had risen to 18 in. in the living compartment and the blister, but the aircraft showed no signs of sinking. The dinghies were secured, and the flying-boat was towed alongside the tender and hoisted aboard without further incident.
REPAIRS IN AIR
DAMAGED CATALINA
NEW ZEALAND CREW'S WORK
(R.N.Z.A.F. Official News Service) GUADALCANAL, March 7
With a gash 17ft. long and 8in. wide torn in its hull through striking a buoy when taking off from its base in the Solomons, an R.N.Z.A.F. Catalina was marooned aloft for eight and a-quarter hours while the crew worked hard to patch it sufficiently to make a safe landing.
The flying-boat was fully laden, and the mishap occurred just as it was lifting into the air. The hole ran ahead of the front step right down the hull to the after step and, coming down in that condition, the Catalina would have sunk in a trice.
Landing on an aerodrome or close inshore so as to run up on a beach would probably have wiped off the aircraft, so the captain decided to make repairs with what material the crew could lay their hands-on, which would stop the water making too fast while additional flotation gear was brought alongside.
Canvas was cut from bunks and laid over the gash, and this was fallowed by part of a sleeping bag. Then a metal plate was cut from the catwalks with a hacksaw, until the one and only blade snapped, and a hammer and screwdriver had to be used. This was forced down and held by odds and ends such as spanners, tommy bars, hammers and files until the job appeared at least as strong as the original hull plate, if not as waterproof. Cotton waste dipped in oil was rammed around the edges of the repair to pack it solidly. The blister compartment was more of a problem because of the very curved shape of the hull. Here a plywood kitchen table was used with canvas and sleeping bags underneath. All this took about six hours.
To give greater flotation if water entered faster than expected, the seven-man dinghy was inflated in the blister and lashed down, and a two-man dinghy was lashed down in the living compartment.
Preparations were then made for alighting. The aircraft was taken up to a safe height. Parachute harness and packs were donned, fuel was jettisoned until only 100 gallons remained, and ammunition was dumped. By radio it was arranged with the aviation tender to have several large rubber dinghies standing by. All boat traffic on the harbour was stopped, as several craft travelling at high speed were setting up a bad chop.
Then the Catalina came in on normal approach and landed close to the tender. When near a group of boats standing by, the throttle was closed and the aircraft, settled back, and it began to make water faster than could be handled by the bilge pumps, but not dangerously. By the time, the dinghies were alongside, the water had risen to 18 in. in the living compartment and the blister, but the aircraft showed no signs of sinking. The dinghies were secured, and the flying-boat was towed alongside the tender and hoisted aboard without further incident.
