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

The EYES of the FLEET: Building the PBY Catalina (Restored & Colorized) This restored and colorized documentary film provides a rare look at the birth of the Consolidated PBY Catalina, one of the most iconic and successful flying boats in aviation history. Go inside the San Diego factory to witness the complete manufacturing process, from raw metal to the first test flights of the "eyes of the fleet." General Information: Consolidated PBY Catalina * Role: Maritime Patrol Flying Boat / Patrol Bom

“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