The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s.
In Canadian service it was known as the Canso.
It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II.
Catalinas served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other nations.
The last military PBYs served until the 1980s.
Variants
US Navy
XP3Y-1
Prototype Model 28 flying boat later re-designated XPBY-1.
Later fitted with a 48-foot-diameter (15 m) ring to sweep magnetic sea mines.
A 550 hp Ranger engine drove a generator to produce a magnetic field.
XPBY-1
Prototype version of the Model 28 for the United States Navy, a re-engine XP3Y-1 with two 900 hp R-1830-64 engines.
PBY-1 (Model 28-1)
Initial production variant with two 900 hp R-1830-64 engines.
PBY-2 (Model 28-2)
Equipment changes and improved performance.
PBY-3 (Model 28-3)
Powered by two 1,000 hp R-1830-66 engines.
PBY-4 (Model 28-4)
Powered by two 1,050 hp R-1830-72 engines.
PBY-5 (Model 28-5)
Either two 1,200 hp R-1830-82 or −92 engines and provision for extra fuel tanks (with partial self-sealing protection).
Some aircraft to the RAF as the Catalina IVA and one to the United States Coast Guard.
The PBY-5 was also built in the Soviet Union as the GST.
XPBY-5A
One PBY-4 converted into an amphibian and first flown in November 1939.
PBY-5A (Model 28-5A)
Amphibious version of the PBY-5 with two 1,200 hp R-1830-92 engines, first batch (of 124) had one 0.3in bow gun, the remainder had two bow guns.
PBY-5R
The XPBY-5A converted into a staff transport, with amphibious gear and nose turret removed and additional windows added.
PBY-6A
Amphibious version with two 1,200 hp R-1830-92 engines and a taller fin and rudder.
Radar scanner fitted above cockpit and two 0.5 in nose guns, 21 were used by the Soviet Navy.
PBY-6AG
One PBY-6A used by the United States Coast Guard as a staff transport.
PB2B-1
Boeing Canada built PBY-5 for the RAF and RCAF from 1942.
PB2B-2
Boeing Canada built version of the PBY-5 but with the taller fin of the PBN-1.
Most supplied to the RAF as the Catalina VI.
PBN-1 Nomad
Naval Aircraft Factory built version of the PBY-5 with major modification including a 2ft bow extension, modified hull lines with a modified step, re-designed wingtip floats and tail surfaces and a revised electrical system.
A total of 155 were built for delivery to the RAF as the Catalina V although 138 were Lend-Leased to the Soviet Navy as the KM-1
PBV-1A
Canadian Vickers built version of the PBY-5A, 380 built including 150 to the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Canso-A and the rest to the USAAF as the OA-10A.
USAAF
OA-10
United States Army Air Forces designation for PBY-5A, 58 aircraft survivors re-designated A-10 in 1948.
OA-10A
USAAF designation of Canadian Vickers-built version of the PBV-1A.
Survivors re-designated A-10A in 1948.
OA-10B
USAAF designation of PBY-6A, 75 built.
Re-designated A-10B in 1948.
RAF
Catalina I
Direct purchase aircraft for the Royal Air Force, same as the PBY-5 with six 0.303 in guns and powered by two 1,200 hp R-1830-S1C3-G engines.
Catalina IA
Operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Canso.
Catalina IB
Lend-lease PBY-5Bs for the RAF.
Catalina II
Equipment changes.
Catalina IIA
Vickers-Canada built Catalina II for the RAF.
Catalina IIIA
Former U.S. Navy PBY-5As used by the RAF on the North Atlantic Ferry Service.
These were the only amphibians that saw RAF service.
Catalina IVA
Lend-lease PBY-5s for the RAF.
Catalina IVB
Lend-lease PB2B-1s for the RAF, some to the Royal Australian Air Force.
Catalina VI
Lend-lease PB2B-2s for the RAF, some to the RAAF.
RCAF
Canso-A
RCAF designation for PBV-1A
Other users
GST
Soviet-built version of the PBY-5.
Steward-Davis Super Catalina (“Super Cat”)
Catalina converted to use 1,700 hp Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14 engines, with enlarged rudder and other changes.
Avalon Turbo Canso
A turboprop conversion of Canso water bombers, powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart engines.