PBY CATALINA: The Legend of the Black Cats | Aviation And History

The PBY’s Finest Hour: The Lethal Edge of the Black Cat Catalina. The "Black Cat" squadrons of World War II represent one of the most innovative and effective uses of the Consolidated PBY Catalina in the Pacific Theater. While the Catalina is famous for its long-range reconnaissance and air-sea rescue capabilities, the Black Cat units transformed this slow, lumbering flying boat into a deadly night raider. Painted entirely flat black to vanish into the night sky, these aircraft prowled the Solom

“The PBY Catalina wasn’t fast, and it wasn’t sleek—but to the men stranded at sea, it was the most beautiful aircraft in the world.” In this heartfelt moment from The Ready Room Podcast, Lieutenant Commander Clyde “Cash” Barber describes what the PBY meant to those it rescued across the vast Pacific. Often operating in hostile waters, the Catalina flew long hours with dedicated crews who brought wounded airmen and sailors back to safety. For those clinging to life in life rafts, the sight of a C

185K views · 4.1K reactions | Incredible! Yesterday, a vintage...