Catalinas and bombs

[Dave Homewood]

Did the RNZAF Catalina crews practice dropping bombs and depth charges regularly? If yes, did they do this training in Fiji or NZ or both? Which ranges?

I also wonder who released the bombs on the Catalina, was the pilot responsible (as in the Singapore) or did the Observer act as a bomb aimer perhaps?

[tbf25o4]

Dave, there is a bomb aiming window in the front of the catalina and the navigator normally acted as the bomb aimer so suggest the release mechanisms were at that station with a command overide in the cockpit. They were capable of carrying 325lb depth charges plus the normal range of practice 9lb bombs and for No.5 Squadron would have used one of the ranges near Lauthala Bay and for No.6 Squadron the range the navy used off Whangaparoa

[tbf25o4]

Dave, there is a bomb aiming window in the front of the catalina and the navigator normally acted as the bomb aimer so suggest the release mechanisms were at that station with a command overide in the cockpit. They were capable of carrying 325lb depth charges plus the normal range of practice 9lb bombs and for No.5 Squadron would have used one of the ranges near Lauthala Bay and for No.6 Squadron the range the navy used off Whangaparoa

[SEAN]

Dave

Don't have an answer to your specific questions, but I do know these Catalina shots were taken at Lauthala Bay.

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Paul. And cheers Sean for the excellent photos.

[alanw]

Hi Dave

Can't give a definitive answer to the depth charge practice,
in reading "Wings over the Pacific" by Alex Horn, he makes
mention that Catalina's based at Lauthala Bay practiced
JASASA (Joint Air Surface Anti-Submarine Action) on a regular
basis with full war loads.

As far as the actual bombing goes in Chapter 15 "No 5 Flying
Boat Squadron" Alex makes mention of a RNZAF Catalina on
Sub patrol who dived on a suspected target:
Quote "
The depth charges were armed the "intervalomter" activated to drop the D/C's at 80 foot intervals (Intervalomter sounds very much
like the US counterpart of the British "Mickey Mouse", a
clockwork instrument that when the arm made contact with a point the circuit was opened and the weapon released)

The target on this occasion was a 'Biological" or whale, (but Alex
mentions) the Captain took his thumb off the release button"
end Quote.

From that I would say the Captain had the command authority
on weapons release. No comment on a bomb aimer though

Hope that helps

Regards

Alan

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks. From memory Ross McHardy is credited with sinking a submarine in a No. 6 Squadron Catalina, as as he was a captain, (pilot in charge) maybe it was the pilot who did the dropping?

[alanw]

Apr 20, 2010 21:54:43 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Thanks. From memory Ross McHardy is credited with sinking a submarine in a No. 6 Squadron Catalina, as as he was a captain, (pilot in charge) maybe it was the pilot who did the dropping?

Re-reading Alex's comments, in the instance he quoted,
the captain was the one who took the aircraft into it's
attack so, I would say yes, as he would be the 1st pilot
and responsible for the attack activity.

I would be interested in how the pilot judged the timing,
as I would imagine he would be wanting to "straddle"
the sub for maximum blast effect. Possibly one of the
crew acted as his "sighting" mechanism through the bomb-
aimer window

In my reading of submarine attacks (usually U-boats) it generally
was the 1st pilot who lead the attack (not always though)

[jennyscott]

Hi Dave,
Regarding your comment re Ross McHardy, 6 Squadron, sinking a submarine, I don't believe any 6 Squadron crew was credited with a sub sinking.
In my book 'Flying DUMBO : Royal New Zealand Air Force No.6 Flying Boat Squadron 1943 - 1945' to be published next year I have Ross participating in the following similar actions:
(1) 2 June 1943 PBY-5 NZ4003 FGOFF R. McHardy (Capt.) Lauthala Bay – JASASA for Submarine sighted in vicinity of Turtle Island Square search conducted from 2/2040hrs to 3/0505hrs Negative Result
(2) 14 August 1943 NZ4015 FGOFF R. McHardy (Capt.) Lauthala Bay – Hunter-Killer Anti-submarine patrol 1938hrs Radar contact 1946hrs Homed on Blip 1950hrs Challenged – correctly answered Position 16°04’S 177°17’E Made two circles around ship positively identified as U.S. Navy Minesweeper YMS-113 Starboard Radar u/s making coverage not 100% stationed two men on Starboard side Visibility excellent Broken cloud to 1000’ Returned Lauthala Bay 14/0820 2hr.40m. (Day) 12hr. (Night)
(3)27 Sept. 1943 NZ4009 FGOFF McHardy (Capt.) Tonga – Patrol Sector ‘D’ Sighted U.S. Tanker and possible submarine Investigation proved negative
(4) 22 April 44 NZ4020 (HAWK 1) FLTLT McHardy (Capt.) Halavo Bay – Commenced Anti-submarine JASASA Action against reported submarine sighting 09°23’S 160°06’E Result Negative
NOTE Aircraft, usually PBY or PV-1, participating in JASASA operations were coded HAWK 1, HAWK 2, etc. Surface ships participating were Seahound 1, Seahound 2, etc.
(5) 14 May 1944 NZ4022 (Hawk 6) FLTLT McHardy (Capt.) Halavo Bay – Relieved Hawk 5 in Anti-submarine JASASA action against submarine reported at 09°30’S 160°35’E
(6) 30 June 1944 FLTLT McHardy awarded DFC Search south of Guadalcanal for crashed SBD. 2 Survivors, recovered by FLTLT R. McHardy and crew. This is the rescue described by Alex Horn in his book.
(7) 7 July 1944 NZ4010 HAWK 1 FLTLT McHardy (Capt.) Halavo Bay – Commenced JASASA Action against enemy submarine reported north of Leru Island. On station 1035L Experienced difficulty establishing communication with Seahound 1 but this improved after first day of operations Off station at 1735 Result Negative
(8) FLTLT Ross McHardy DFC departed 6 Squadron 25 July 1944

Re the original question, 6 Squadron crews were ordered to undergo intensive training in all aspects of PBY operations in 1943 in order to prepare them for ops. Because of difficulty in acquiring aircraft earlier the RNZAF were playing catchup.
They were based at Lauthala Bay, Fiji, and to the best of my knowledge all practice including NavEx, air firing, bombing and depth charges were conducted from there.
Post war 6 Squadron may very well have used Whangaparoa.

As late as 5 August 1943 the following exercises and probably more were being performed on a single day:
NZ4001 FGOFF G. Gudsell (Capt.) Lauthala Bay – Circuits & landings 1hr.
NZ4001 FGOFF D. Sheehan (Capt.) Lauthala Bay – Circuits & landings 1hr.
NZ4002 PLTOFF Carlaw (Capt.) FLTSGT V. Cairns (2nd Pilot) Lauthala Bay – Instrument flying take-off and landing 1hr.20m.
NZ4002 FGOFF G. Hitchcock (Capt.) FGOFF D. Beauchamp (2nd Pilot) Lauthala Bay – Instrument flying 2hr.30m.
NZ4010 0925 FGOFF W. Burgess (Capt.) SQLDR I. Scott (2nd Pilot) Lauthala Bay – Practice bombing 2hr.
NZ4010 1415 FGOFF A. Henry (Capt.) SGT J. Monk (2nd Pilot) Lauthala Bay – Practice bombing moving target 1hr.35m.
NZ4010 SQLDR I. Scott (Capt.) FLTSGT V. Cairns (2nd Pilot) Lauthala Bay – Night Navigation Exercise No.8 10hr.

Flights back to NZ were travel flights for the purpose of transporting air and ground crew between Auckland and Fiji.

I love the photos of the underwing ordinance Who do I ask for permission to use in my book? Always looking for good photos of RNZAF PBYs, PBY bases, personnel, etc

I hope this is of interest
Jenny Scott
Adelaide
[e-mail]
www.flickr.com/photos/adelaide_archivist/sets/72157604150119757/

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks Jenny. It is good to hear that you are progressing with your book. It's been a while since we were in touch.

[jennyscott]

Hi Dave,
Yes - I have been firmly esconsed in 1944 such that I forgot my login and had to re-register.
Book is currently at 288 pages and 134,000 words and growing!
Hoping to launch at Ohakea celebrations March 2012
Best
Jenny

[Dave Homewood]

Great stuff!!

[jennyscott]

Further to my belated participation in this discussion Bill Mackley flying with No.3 OTU makes reference to practice bombing at Naselai, I perhaps rashly am assuming Nasilai Reef off the S.E. coast of Viti Levu, on 27th and 28th March 1945.