A view of two Catalinas wearing a mix of camouflages and markings. The nearer aircraft is in the Atlantic ASW scheme of Dark Gull Gray over White and wears the blue-bordered insignia adopted in August 1943. The aircraft in the background is in the Blue Gray over Light Gray scheme with the earlier national insignia which still carries the yellow border used during the Torch landings in North Africa.Not the best picture but another mix of different camouflages. Noteworthy is the pin-up artwork on the tail of the aircraft on the left. Personal markings or artwork were common on USAAF aircraft but much less so with USN / USMC operated aircraft. The artwork and the serial on the tail indicate these are USAAF OA-10As.A rather worn PBY-5A over the ocean. The white dots over the rear fuselage are insulators for an extensive array of antenna wires, also note the ASV radar antenna under the starboard wing.Diorama bait! Here the USS Gillis (AVD-12) refuels a PBY astern in Aleutian waters while three Higgins 78 foot Patrol Torpedo Boats nest alongside. The Gillis was a Clemson-class Destroyer converted to a seaplane tender, but still retained a significant compliment of guns & depth charges and could function as an escort vessel. She was credited with damaging a Japanese submarine with depth charges while in the Aleutians. (via David Knights)Passing documents to the co-pilot of a VP-51 PBY. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection)Here the beaching crew is preparing to bring a PBY-5 up on the ramp using wetsuits and a small dinghy. This involved attaching wheeled beaching gear to the aircraft and then hauling it up the ramp using a towing vehicle or block and tackle, and had to be done in all weather conditions and temperatures. Note the repainted areas on the wing of this PBY. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection)The hauling lines are attached aft and beaching gear is being secured to the fuselage sides. The crewman standing in the waist blister is recovering the sea anchor, a canvas device used to orient and slow the aircraft on the surface in windy conditions. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection)Line handlers stabilize the PBY while it is being readied to come up the ramp. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection)A PBY-5 approaches the ramp while the beaching crew stands by. In warm weather the men in the water could get by with regular swimming trunks. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection)An Oliver tractor is being used to haul the PBY-5 up the ramp. An additional set of beaching gear is positioned on the ramp, standing by for the next aircraft. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Rudy Arnold Photo Collection)A Case tractor is secured for towing on the seaplane ramp. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Rudy Arnold Photo Collection)The PBY is ready to move. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Rudy Arnold Photo Collection)A nice airborne shot of a pre-war PBY-5 seaplane. 684 PBY-5 seaplanes were produced before production shifted to the PBY-5A amphibian. (National Air and Space Museum Archives, Rudy Arnold Photo Collection)
It’s funny how they look so big by themselves, until you see a person standing next to them and it puts things into perspective. Then you recall that these planes had a crew of 10!
But Jeff, sitting in a cramped, hot maritime patrol plane and staring at the water for hours on end is part of the “adventure!” Why else would anyone want to be in naval aviation? 😁
That’s a good one as well. There is also a picture of a PBY being prepped to come up a ramp in the Aleutians … the beaching crew is wading around with ice in the water. That would make a nice diorama too.
WHENEVER ANY FORM OF GOVERNMENT BECOMES DESTRUCTIVE OF THESE ENDS (LIFE,LIBERTY,AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS) IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO ALTER OR ABOLISH IT, AND TO INSTITUTE A NEW GOVERNMENT― Thomas Jefferson
I have all the reference I need to eventually build my Monogram 1/48 scale PBY!
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I hope there’s something useful, Pierre!
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It will…
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Built that kit when I was eleven yrs old.
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It’s funny how they look so big by themselves, until you see a person standing next to them and it puts things into perspective. Then you recall that these planes had a crew of 10!
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One thing about military vehicles, no matter how big they are on the outside the crew positions are almost always cramped!
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But Jeff, sitting in a cramped, hot maritime patrol plane and staring at the water for hours on end is part of the “adventure!” Why else would anyone want to be in naval aviation? 😁
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The PBYs had racks and a small galley. Some crews in the Aleutians preferred living aboard their aircraft to living in tents ashore. Heck of a choice!
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Jeff, you know you have to do that diorama!
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Flush deck destroyers are high on my list, I think I need to do four of them.
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I like the idea of the tender and the plane Diorama, but that orange tracker pulling the PBY out of the water would make a cool diorama as well!
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That’s a good one as well. There is also a picture of a PBY being prepped to come up a ramp in the Aleutians … the beaching crew is wading around with ice in the water. That would make a nice diorama too.
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Bring on the diorama, that’s a great idea! I love to see that!!
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It would be a fun one!
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