Wanted >> PBY Flying Boat Beaching Gear

Might drop an email to Kermit Weeks at Fantasy of Flight. I know he has a Cat in the back in very rough shape he has been collecting parts for. Don’t know if it’s an amphibian or Boat variety, but he often buys whole batches of parts from people liquidating a project. Might be work a shot.

Here is a link to his Collection Page, go up to the top and hit the contact button.

http://www.fantasyofflight.com/collection.htm

Good Hunting

Chris

There are examples at the Lake Boga Catalina Museum but they are a complex steel forgings and it would be far simpler to try a world wide search first before trying to replicate them.

With 3,000 flying boat Cats built you would assume at least 1 set per aircraft were produced, and that they were disposed of in the area’s around major SeaPlane Bases? after the war.

The rapid decline of “Flying Boat” Cats post war would reduce the operational use of them considerably although I have already been advised of some current operators of Amphibian Cats who retain a set for holding the aircraft up when working on the retractable U/C.

At this stage the forum postings have already uncovered a near complete set and negotiations may deliver those far easier than replication, and other sets may come on offer as well.

Thanks to those who have assisted so far

regards

Mark Pilkington

Geeetting back on track.Mark have you considered copying a real set and producing new ones?

ASW in the North sea. Hours of bad weather and tedium broken up by moments of TERROR! Been chasing threads around the net, started off digging for info on the FW 190 that they pulled up near Bergen and did some illustrations on that bird.

In digging there, I came across a link of the Norwegian Cats and was had to dig deeper. Not much out there that I have seen. A lot on US Navy in the Pacific, totally different world! I thought a 333 Squadron Cat would be an interesting model to tackle, so here I am. Digging for data.

Please find a VERY preliminary preview of the Cat illustration on the board now. Still working on detailing it out, have to build out the sub a bit more and just add more and more detail. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks for your info, and keep it coming.

Chris

Chris,

It was in about May 43 (coincidentally about the time 333 sqdn was formed) that the U-boats started to fight on the surface, particularly in the Bay of Biscay but there was a Liberator brought down near Iceland that summer as well after it had sunk its target. The crew spent three days in rafts before being rescued.

By October 43 Doenitz had changed tactics and ordered the fleet back to dock to have schnorkels fitted so they could travel underwater by day and only risk surfacing at night.

I suppose you could depict the submarine with its decks awash about to dive but during ’43 the crews would still have been alert to the threat of U-boats fighting back.

The ordnance would be standard 250lb depth charges.

It is an interesting topic and might be worth splitting into a thread of its own to see what information others have – maybe the mods can help?

TT – don’t worry, I do a lot worse.

I’ve now read my recent Catalina Society newsletters and it seems that VP-BPS is now in Ireland.

The Catalina Society’s website is http://www.catalina.org.uk – it might be worth contacting David Legg (through the website). He will know where there are other flying boat Cats which might give the leads you need.

I was afraid the blisters would be open, it means that much more work! I am digging through the Squadron log book trying to pick an engagement to depict. Fuzzy scans…my eyes hurt! That and just trying to figure out their lingo!

I imagine they flew with them closed but opened them ASAP when trouble was lurking. Was that typically a 50 or twin 303s being a Brit Squadron? Any photos of the twin 303 anyone? I have a good photo of the 50.

Thanks
Chris

😮 Balls – blindingly obvious, sorry, but as you say they may have ‘the gear’ in their spares holding..soz, trying to help! 😮

TT

VP-BPS and N423RS are both amphibians with retractable gear. Mark’s search is for the removable beaching gear used to launch a pure flying boat. But that said, they must have some contacts for people with Catalina spares.
The flying boats are the difficulty here. The Amphibians cheaper to operate – you can have fun in the water but bring them home to places such as Duxford as easily as any other land plane. So it follows that the Flying Boat’s – and their equipment – will be rare.

Chris, your illustration depending on the date of the action. At one point the U-boats were kitted out with flak batteries and stayed ont he surface to fight aircraft. In which case the crew would be fighting back – cold or not. From memory I think it was mid 1943 but I’ll need to check and will get back to you.
That, by the way, was why Sunderlands started to be fitted with four nose guns.

Sorry I’ve no info on beaching gear Mark. I assume you’ve been in touch with the Catalina Society?

Might check with the National Museum of Naval Aviation. I believe they have two on display, one whole and one-cutaway view. They may be able to point you in a direction. Here is a link to their site.
http://broadcast.illuminatedtech.com/display/story.cfm?bp=93&sid=7984

On the same line of thought, I am working on an illustration of a RAF Sq 333 on patrol/ASW attacking a surfaced U-boat. I have a few questions I am seeking info on for historical accuracy.
1 Would the side blisters be open and guns be out for an attack on a surfaced sub-would they bother? We are talking North Sea-COLD!
2 Would they be using wing mounted ordinance? Bombs? Depth Charges?
3 I am depicting Consolidated Catalina Mk.I, FP314 / A “Viking” of 333 Norwegian) Sqn. RAF, Woodhaven, Scotland 1943

Any sites where I can get more info or photos would be a great help.
Thanks
Chris

Mark – the obvious place would be the chaps at Lee on Solent who have the two PBYS – IIRC VP-BPS the ex Plane Sailing one and the former Greenpeace N423RS if they are still there?

Used to be Super Catalina Restorations, but, ahem, their website appears to have been taken over by someone else! http://www.supercatalina.com/

TT

Still seeking any leads on PBY Flying Boat Beaching Gear?

any leads appreciated?

regards

Mark Pilkington

Dunno about beaching gear but we do have a pretty much complete search radar setup for a Cat you might like to have..