CONSOLIDATED CATALINA 100 YEARS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERSPATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION 37Isles by a 210 Squadron Catalina.
The end of World War Two in the
summer of 1945 meant the RAF’s
Catalina fleet was rapidly considered
surplus to requirements. In Britain
the final aircraft were retired by 202
Squadron at Castle Archdale in June,
and the last British Catalina left Red
Hills Lake in India in October the
same year.
The venerable Short Sunderland
took over the Catalina’s work,
although many crews considered
the American-built flying boat to
be more reliable, easier to fly and
able to operate in more extreme
conditions. Nevertheless, the ‘Cat’
provided gallant service when it was
needed most.armament, IVa and IVb airframes
were delivered with US equipment
to enable faster production.
The most advanced Catalinas
ordered by the British were 53
examples of the Mk.VI, which
benefited from the taller tail used on
the US Navy’s PBY-6A. However,
just five of these were operated
by the RAF with the remainder
provided to the RAAF for service in
the Pacific.
On May 7, 1945, the 196th and
final U-Boat to be sunk by Coastal
Command was destroyed 120 miles
(193km) north of the ShetlandType: Seven-crew reconnaissance and maritime patrol aircraft
First fl ight: March 28, 1935, entered service March 1941
Powerplant: Two 1,200hp (895kN) Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radials
Dimensions: Span 104ft 0in (31.70m), length 65ft 11in (20,09m)
Weights: Empty 17,256lb (7,827kg), all-up 34,000lb (15,422kg)
Max speed: 179mph (288km/h) at 10,500ft (3,200m)
Range: 2,760 miles (4,442km)
Armament: One .303 gun in the bows and two in each side blister, and one in
the aft step. Bomb load: 4,000lb (1,814kg) or four depth charges
Replaced: Short Lerwick
Taken on charge: Approximately 640 including 113 Mk.I, 195 Mk.Ib, six Mk. II, 22 Mk IIa,
12 Mk.IIIs, 97 Mk.IVa, 193 Mk.IVb, 53 Mk.VI and two Canso.
Replaced by: Short SunderlandCONSOLIDATED CATALINA 1B
“The ‘Cat’ would soon achieve
operational successes and a 209 Squadron
machine fl own by Plt Off Briggs located the
German battleship Bismarck in the Atlantic
on May 26.”
Left
A 202 Squadron
Catalina approaches
Europa Point in
Gibraltar after an anti-
submarine patrol over
the Mediterranean
in 1943.Below
Catalina II AM269
at rest at Stranraer,
Scotland in March
1941 while in service
with 240 Squadron.Isles by a 210 Squadron Catalina. Below left
Catalina I JV928
of 210 Squadron
was being fl own by
John Cruickshank
on July 18, 1944
when he sighted
a German U-Boat.
Unfortunately,
his depth charges
failed to drop so
Cruickshank battled
intense anti-aircraft
fi re to press home a
second attack. The
Catalina was hit
repeatedly, killing the
navigator and injuring
the pilot, co-pilot and
other crewmembers.
Although Cruickshank
was struck in 72
places, he continued
his attack and
released the depth
charges manually
to sink the U-boat.
Although he was
fading in and out
of consciousness
Cruickshank helped
fl y the aircraft the
5 ½ hours back to
base and then circled
for a further hour
until the sea and
light conditions were
safe enough to land.
He was awarded the
Victoria Cross for his
bravery. ANDY HAY/
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