Consolidated PBY-5, PB2B-1 Catalina


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Serial c/n Type Fate
NZ4001 1194 PBY-5 Bu08280, Arrived Fiji 04 April 1943. Code XX-A. Damaged Lauthala Bay 09 August 1945. Written off 22 September 1945.
NZ4002 1334 PBY-5 Previously JX232. Arrived Fiji 12 May 1943. Code XX-B. Crashed at Lauthala Bay while doing night circuit practice on 23 September 1943. The aircraft took off at 2050 hours with the elevator trim tabs wrongly set and crashed into the water from a height of about 200 feet. It burst into flames on impact and the 4 crew were killed. Written off books at Fiji on 08 November 1943 as reduced to spares.
NZ4003 1336 PBY-5 Previously JX234. Arrived Fiji 15 May 1943. Code XX-C. Water looped and struck Liberty Ship in Segond Channel 31 October 1943. Written off.
NZ4004 1297 PBY-5 Bu08373. Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. Code XX-D. Became INST120 at Hobsonville in 1946. Declared surplus in 1951. Broken up and scrapped at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4005 1335 PBY-5 Previously JX233. Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. Code XX-E. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4006 1338 PBY-5 Previously JX236. Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. Missing on Suva-Auckland trip on 04 June 1943. The aircraft left Lauthala Bay about 0430 and was not heard from again. Some wreckage was found in the following few days on the islands south of Lathala bay. Seven crew and eight passengers all listed as missing presumed dead. Worst RNZAF air crash to that date. Aircraft written off books at Suva.
NZ4007 1339 PBY-5 Previously JX237. Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. Code XX-F. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4008 1332 PBY-5 Previously JX230. Arrived Fiji 01 June 1943. Code XX-J. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4009 1333 PBY-5 Previously JX231. Arrived Fiji 12 June 1943. Code XX-K. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4010 1251 PBY-5 Previously JX228. Arrived Fiji 16 June 1943. Code XX-L. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4011 1337 PBY-5 Previously JX235. Arrived Fiji 16 June 1943. Code XX-M. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4012 1384 PBY-5 Bu08450. Arrived Fiji 20 June 1943. Code XX-N. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4013 1402 PBY-5 Bu08468. Arrived Fiji 06 July 1943. Code XX-O. Water looped on take off after a dumbo rescue mission in Segond Channel on 11 October 1944. Was taken under tow by a US ship but the damaged starboard float collapsed and the aircraft capsized and sank in deep water.
NZ4014 1398 PBY-5 Bu08464. Arrived Fiji 11 July 1943. Code XX-P. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4015 1387 PBY-5 Bu08453. Arrived Fiji 12 July 1943. Code XX-R. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4016 1400 PBY-5 Bu08466. Arrived Fiji 13 July 1943. Code XX-S. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4017 1401 PBY-5 Bu08467. Arrived Fiji 13 July 1943. Code XX-T. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952. The aircraft currently flying in NZ painted as NZ4017 is PBV-1A Canso ZK-PBY (construction number CV-357) of the Catalina Group, Papakura.
NZ4018 1432 PBY-5 Bu08488. Arrived Fiji 20 October 1943. Code XX-U. Declared surplus to requirements 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4019 1372 PBY-5 Bu08438. Arrived Fiji 21 October 1943. Code XX-V. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4020 1369 PBY-5 Bu08435. Arrived Fiji 21 October 1943. Code XX-W. Stalled on landing at Hobsonville on 26 May 1945 and towed to mooring by crash boat. Damage resulted in the aircraft being written off charge on 18 June 1945.
NZ4021 1431 PBY-5 Bu08487. Arrived Fiji 27 October 1943. Code XX-X. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4022 1470 PBY-5 Bu08516. Arrived Fiji 28 October 1943. Code XX-Y. Spun into sea 10 miles south of Mbenga, Fiji on 27 January 1945 while operating with No.6 Squadron. During a post maintenance test flight the aircraft was deliberately stalled at 5500 feet but entered an uncontrollable spin and dived into the sea near Beqa Island at 1058 hours. 4 crew and 8 passengers killed but 2 crew 4 passengers managed to get clear of the wreckage before it sank and survived. Aircraft written off books at Suva.
NZ4023 28086 PB2B-1 Bu72997. Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-A. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4024 28088 PB2B-1 Bu72999. Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-B. Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4025 28089 PB2B-1 Bu73000. Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-C. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4026 28102 PB2B-1 Bu73013. Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-D. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4027 28087 PB2B-1 Bu72998. Arrived Fiji 11 May 1944. Code GF-E. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4028 28104 PB2B-1 Bu73015. Arrived Fiji 11 May 1944. Code GF-F. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4029 28119 PB2B-1 Bu73030. Arrived Fiji 12 May 1944. Code PA-A. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4030 28105 PB2B-1 Bu73016. Arrived Fiji 18 May 1944. Code PA-B. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4031 28120 PB2B-1 Bu73031. Arrived Fiji 11 June 1944. Code PA-C. Stalled on take off from Funafuti Lagoon at 0620 hours on 13 April 1945 while being operated by No. 5 Squadron. The aircraft then sank in 15 fathoms of water. 3 crew killed but 7 survived.
NZ4032 28121 PB2B-1 Bu73032. Arrived Fiji 10 June 1944. Code PA-D. Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4033 28132 PB2B-1 Bu73043. Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-E. Damaged when waterlooped on landing at Mechanics Bay on 14 Feb 1946. Broken up 1949.
NZ4034 28133 PB2B-1 Bu73044. Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-F. Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4035 28134 PB2B-1 Bu73045. Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-G. Loaned to TEAL for crew training in 1947 and registered ZK-AMI. Returned to RNZAF and declared surplus to requirements. Broken up in 1948.
NZ4036 28135 PB2B-1 Bu73046. Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-H. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4037 28136 PB2B-1 Bu73047. Arrived Fiji 22 June 1944. Codes PA-I, KN-B. Withdrawn from service with No.5 Squadron Lauthala Bay October 1953 and flown to Hobsonville for storage. Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4038 28137 PB2B-1 Bu73048. Arrived Fiji 25 June 1944. Code PA-J. Loaned to TEAL in 1948 to survey Coral Route and registered as ZK-AMP. Returned to RNZAF in 1951 and declared surplus to requirements. Sold for scrap and broken up May 1952.
NZ4039 28144 PB2B-1 Bu73055. Arrived Fiji 28 June 1944. Code PA-K. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4040 28146 PB2B-1 Bu73057. Arrived Fiji 28 June 1944. Code PA-L. No record of disposal. Thought to have been reduced to spares at Hobsonville in 1949.
NZ4041 28147 PB2B-1 Bu73058. Arrived Fiji 28 June 1944. Code PA-M. Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4042 28118 PB2B-1 Bu73029. Arrived Fiji 07 July 1944. Code PA-N. With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron Hobsonville 25 June 1953-06 April 1954. Withdrawn from service 06 April 1954 and stored Hobsonville. Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4043 28103 PB2B-1 Bu73014. Arrived Fiji 29 July 1944. Code PA-O. Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4044 28148 PB2B-1 Bu73059. Arrived Fiji 01 August 1944. Code KN-C. With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron, Hobsonville 06 February 1952-28 September 1953. Withdrawn from service October 1953 and stored at Hobsonville. Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4045 28149 PB2B-1 Bu73060. Arrived Fiji 02 August 1944. Code GF-H. Used for ground training of engineers at Hobsonville from 1949. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4046 28145 PB2B-1 Bu73056. Arrived Fiji 05 August 1944. Code KN-A. Force landed after engine failure 17 miles off Suva on 08 October 1952. Badly damaged in landing after float was ripped off and sank after crew had abandoned aircraft.
NZ4047 60956 PB2B-1 Bu73095. Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. Codes PA-C, KN-B. Struck reef while taxiing at Vila on 08 August 1950. Repaired on site and flown back to Lauthala Bay on 29 August 1950. Transferred to Hobsonville for major repairs on 23 November 1950. Repair work never carried out and aircraft was declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and sold for scrap. In 1950 NZ4047 was the highest houred RNZAF Catalina.
NZ4048 60959 PB2B-1 Bu73098. Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. To No.5 Squadron with code KN-C. Stalled and crashed on takeoff from Satapuala on 12 December 1950 killing 7 crew and injuring 1.
NZ4049 60974 PB2B-1 Bu73113. Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. Code KN-D. With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron Hobsonville 30 November 1953-06 April 1954. Provided SAR coverage for the Royal Tour by Queen Elizabeth II in January 1954. Withdrawn from service 06 April 1954 and stored Hobsonville. Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4050 60957 PB2B-1 Bu73096. Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. Code KN-G. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4051 60958 PB2B-1 Bu73097. Arrived Fiji 04 October 1944. Code KN-H. Damaged 07 February 1950 during take off from Evans Bay, Wellington when seawater flooded aircraft. Lifted out of water and taken to Shelley Bay for disposal. Fuselage and engines sold for scrap and aircraft struck off charge on 24 June 1950.
NZ4052 60976 PB2B-1 Bu73115. Arrived Fiji 09 October 1944. Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4053 60977 PB2B-1 Bu73116. Arrived Fiji 09 October 1944. Code KN-K. Withdrawn from service with No.5 Squadron Lauthala Bay October 1953 and flown to Hobsonville for storage. Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4054 60975 PB2B-1 Bu73114. Arrived Fiji 11 October 1944. Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4055 61108 PB2B-1 Bu44202. Arrived Fiji 27 November 1944. Code KN-L. With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron Hobsonville 23 March 1953-02 April 1954. Withdrawn from service April 1954 and stored Hobsonville. Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold to Mr. Jack Sellars for 250 pounds, who intended to convert it to a pleasure boat. Towed to Whangateau where the wings were removed and then taken by road to Wellsford and parked on owners property. Purchased by scrap merchant in the late 1960s.
NZ4056 61109 PB2B-1 Bu44203. Arrived Fiji 29 November 1944. Code KN-F. Returned to Hobsonville from Lauthala Bay on 12 November 1952 for storage but was declared unfit for flying. Struck off charge on 29 January 1953 and reduced to spares.

Source: "The Golden Age of New Zealand Flying Boats" by Paul Harrison with Brian Lockstone and Andy Anderson. NZ Wings 1987. AHSNZ Journal March 1985. "For Your Tomorrow" by Errol Martyn.

 

 



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