Product Review

Produced by Consolidated Aircraft, the PBY Catalina was a flying boat which later became an amphibious aircraft, used by several countries in the 1930's and 1940's. It is a long range aircraft, which did not require a runway to operate, as it was capable of both take-off and landing on the water. The PBY's uses included maritime patrol, bombing, anti-submarine warfare, and search and rescue missions. Remembered for their role in rescuing downed airmen, the PBY saved thousands of lives. Catalina airmen referred to their aircraft as the "Cat" on combat missions and "Dumbo" during air-sea rescue. The name Black Cats refers to a select group of squadrons whose mission it was to strike at night. Painting their aircraft matte black, installing special radar and flame dampers over the exhaust ports, and often using only the lights on their instrument gauges to guide them, these squadrons were virtually undetectable at night.