Postage Stamp Planes PS5556-6
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina Diecast Model
RAAF No.42 Sqn, A24-88, 1944 |
| 1:150 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina | | 5" | | 8.25" |
Catalina A24-88 was delivered to the RAAF in March 1944 as a PBY-5A, and served with 42 Squadron as RK-A from August 1944 through to July 1945 in the South East Pacific operations as a "Black Cat" on sea mining missions.
A24-88 most famous mission was to take part in the longest Black Cat mining mission of the War, to mine Manila Harbour in December 1944 to bottle up the Japanese fleet ahead of the landings in the Philippines by General MacArthur.
A24-88 was transferred to 11 Squadron on August 1st 1945 and remained with that squadron to the end of the war. On January 10th 1946 A24-88 was allocated to 1 Flying Boat Repair Depot at Lake Boga, Victoria for storage and disposal. January 1948 the hulk of A24-88 was sold for scrap but instead was stripped of it's engines, wings, and tail and converted to a house boat on the Murray River where it served for over 30 years in the Echuca area.
Catalina PBY A24-88 (RK A) hulk was acquired by the Australian National Aviation Museum in Moorabbin Victoria and is currently awaiting restoration. A24-88 is the last surviving RAAF Black Cat, the sole surviving RAAF PBY-5A model of 46 delivered, and the only survivor of the 29 locally modified PBY-5A (M) aircraft converted from Amphibian to Flying Boat.
Designed to replace the Martin P3M, the PBY Catalina was first flown on March 28th, 1935. This aircraft is a long range patrol flying boat, one of the most rugged and versatile aircraft in U.S. history. Its long range assisted in the location and attack of enemy transport ships. A great advantage of flying boats is that they need no runway, however later PBY variants incorporated retractable landing gear, allowing for amphibious operation from land or water. Even today-more than seventy years after its first flight-the PBY continues to fly as an air tanker in firefighting operations throughout the world. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The "Postage Stamp Planes" range presents affordable, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft.
"Postage Stamp Planes" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Authentic ordnance loads.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
