Consolidated PBY Catalina: libros - historia y despliegue

Consolidated PBY Catalina (Pilot's Flight Operation Instructions)

El Consolidated PBY Catalina, uno de los aviones polivalentes más utilizados durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, era un hidroavión formidable. Se empleó como plataforma antisubmarina en el Atlántico y se hizo famoso en el Pacífico como avión de rescate y reconocimiento, además de como bombardero.

Con sus distintivos fuselajes pintados del color de la medianoche, los "Black Cats" emprendieron audaces incursiones contra buques e instalaciones costeras japonesas.

Este manual de operaciones de vuelo, impreso originalmente por la Armada de los Estados Unidos durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial, enseñaba a los pilotos todo lo que necesitaban saber antes de entrar en la cabina. El manual fue desclasificado y se reimprime aquí en formato de libro.

Detalle del libro

Catalina Over Arctic Oceans - Anti-Submarine and Rescue Flying in World War II

John French first took up flying in 1937 with the University of London Air Squadron and in 1938 joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. His early war years were spent instructing newly recruited RAF pilots on Airspeed Oxfords and Avro Ansons. When the end of this posting came through he was designated to 210 Squadron at Sullom Voe in the Shetlands to fly the Catalina flying boat.
In November 1942 the squadron was ordered south to join 202 Squadron at Gibraltar. Here they flew sorties in support of the North African landings - Operation Torch. These were lengthy flights out into the Atlantic approaches to Gibraltar or Eastwards into the Mediterranean. He flew fifteen sorties in this short period before returning to Pembroke Dock. He was then instructed to report to Felixstowe to collect Catalina IB FP 222 and to ferry it up to his new base Sullom Voe.
From this northern base the flying boats flew thirty hour patrols out into the Northern Atlantic searching for enemy ships and U-boats. On 8 September he was ordered to execute an extended search of the Norwegian coast where it was thought that the Tirpitz and Scharnhorst were seeking shelter. Having unsuccessfully searched the entire coastline at low-level they finally touched down on the Kola Inlet after a flight of over twenty-two hours.

As February 1944 came towards its end he was detailed to cover a Russian convoy, JW57, far up to the north of the Arctic Circle. Shortly before his ETA with the convoy they got a radar return. They dropped down below the cloud to find a rough angry sea and spotted the wake of a ship. However this was not a ship but a surfaced U-boat. As they flew into attack they met a hail of 37mm and machine-gun fire John dropped to attack level and came in from the stern dropping two depth charges. Thus came the demise of U-601.
After the war John stayed in the RAF.

Detalle del libro

PBY Catalina : Consolidated's Flying Boat in WWII

El PBY Catalina, diseñado y producido por Consolidated Aircraft, cuya producción se complementó con la de Boeing Canada, Canadian Vickers y la Naval Aircraft Factory, fue el hidroavión más utilizado de todos los tiempos.
Desarrollado en la década de 1930, el famoso bombardero de patrulla fue utilizado en todo el mundo por Estados Unidos y sus aliados; los soviéticos incluso produjeron cientos de réplicas. Este versátil avión hundió submarinos alemanes, localizó al temido Bismarck y rescató a numerosos aviadores derribados y tripulaciones de barcos hundidos.

Este volumen explora el desarrollo y el uso de la aeronave, así como los detalles de su construcción. Está profusamente ilustrado con casi 300 fotografías, muchas de ellas en color de época, complementadas con dibujos lineales.

Detalle del libro