Marky's Cat. ***FINISHED***

[MarkyM607]

My dad used to pilot a PBY5 so looking forward to this. He used to fly with J Cruikshank VC but had left for warmer climes before the latter won his gong.

Do you know any details, such as squadron or serial?. Might be nice to link to you!.

I used to have his log book but gave it to the Catalina society and stupidly forgot to make a note. His was the non amphibian so you'd have to ditch the wheels. His plane did have an R on the tail and he was based in Korangi Creek in 44/45 with either 191 or 212 squadron

Thanks, will get digging and see what I can come up with. Have a good book on the Catalina and it's operators, as well as the 'RAF Squadrons' book which might give me an idea of locations of 191 and 212 in 44/45, see if it can match Korangi Creek.

[TobyC]

He was based in Ceylon prior to that

[MarkyM607]

Hi. I have done some research (fancy title for reading through books), and I have found this about 191 and 212 squadrons.
191 Squadron
August 1944 Received Catalina IV's
November 44 sent to Red Hills Lake, Madras, India
Detachments to:- Coconada (up the coast from Madras), Trombay (Bombay, India), Korangi Creek (Karachi), Koggala (Ceylon).
April 1945 to Koggala with Catalina Ib's.
June 1945 Disbanded

212 Squadron.
October 1942 Reformed at Korangi Creek (Karachi)
November 1942 Squadron Established
December 1942 Catalina Ib's received.
Detachments to:- Masirah (Oman), Jiwani (Iran), Bahrain, Red Hills Lake (Madras), Trombay, Cochin (India), Koggala and Bally (Calcutta).

Based on this I would go more for 191 Squadron for your Dad although he could have been with others. 191 seems to fit Korangi Creek more than 212 regarding the time frame.
(Information from 'RAF Squadrons by Wg Cmdr C G Jefford)

In the book 'Flying Cats' by Andrew Hendrie, it says:-
MARITIME OPERATIONS IN THE FAR EAST.
No 191 Squadron re-formed at Korangi Creek near Karachi in May 1943 and was equipped with Catalina's until June 1945 when it was disbanded. One of the Catalina's to be ferried out in May was FP117, captained by Sgt Hitchcock. With him as second pilots were Wg Cdr Cornabe and Guy Coliings. FP117 was collected from Scottish Aviation at Gourock. They flew down to Plymouth on the 20th and left the United Kingdom two days later for Gibraltar. Their route to the Far East was via Cairo, Habbania and Bahrain, arriving at Korangi Creek on 1 June.
Guy Collings found his duties to be anti-submarine patrols around the Persian Gulf and approaches to Karachi and Bombay. There were also various convoy escorts and trips to places such as Masirah and Muscat. On 4 December, Collings was in the crew of FP307 which flew some senior officers of Group HQ to Bangalore, Madras, Koggala and then to Cochin, and back via Bombay, returning on the 14th.
Robert Cole was another pilot who was posted to 191 Squadron in early 1944. Much of his flying was in FP315, captained by an Australian-- Flt Lt Hortle --although he had some trips with a New Zealander, F/O Vowles in JX369.
A flight engineer, Jack Whitley, was apparently selected to fly in Catalina's because of his experience with Pratt and Whitney engines in Hudson's at Silloth. He left Oban on 11 June 1944 in JX347 captained by Flt Sgt Williams, and reached Korangi Creek on the 27th. En route to India via North Africa they passed over some former 8th Army positions, and saw obvious signs of the desert war battles with burnt out tanks, aircraft, tank tracks and positions, and Tobruk Harbour full of capsized shipping. In addition to doing some Met flights, Whitley was with a crew engaged in anti-locust patrols from Korangi Creek during the period 16 May to 2 June 1945. On leaving 191 Squadron, some of these aircrew converted to other aircraft, such as Sunderland's and Liberators.
After operating from Korangi Creek, Karachi, with detachments at places such as Bahrain, 191 Squadron moved to Red Hill Lake, Madras, in November 1944. In May 1945 the unit moved to Koggala, Ceylon, and the squadron was disbanded in the following month.

Phew, hope that wasn't too much. Seems to give a decent insight into 191, thought it might be of interest. Nice to have a build with some actual history rather than just building a kit.

[TobyC]

That's fantastic. He was definitely with 191 and I think with 212 for a while. As I said he flew non amphibs so wheels are a no no. You could scratch build a dolly to add to the effect.

[MarkyM607]

Non-amphibious-ness underway. Wheel bay being boarded up with plastic circles and PVA..

[TobyC]

I'm starting to get a bit nostalgic with this build.

[MarkyM607]

I'm starting to get a bit nostalgic with this build.

So am I and I hardly know the people involved!! . Planning to go with the box art as the colour scheme, found a picture with a large letter on the tail, just under the horizontal tail. Looks a good reference for you dad's one. Will do a bit of checking for more specific 191 Squadron markings.
I am finding this more and more appealing a build now I can link it not only to a fellow forum member but someone who served on the type.

[TobyC]

I'm starting to get a bit nostalgic with this build.

So am I and I hardly know the people involved!! . Planning to go with the box art as the colour scheme, found a picture with a large letter on the tail, just under the horizontal tail. Looks a good reference for you dad's one. Will do a bit of checking for more specific 191 Squadron markings.
I am finding this more and more appealing a build now I can link it not only to a fellow forum member but someone who served on the type.

Here's a picture of my Dad when we went to Shoreham to see a PBY5A that was on display.



He was treated like royalty when I told them what he used to fly them. They took him inside and showed him around and he was asked a few questions about the layout and his memories of it and he pointed out they'd removed a fitting where the crew used to keep their sandwiches.

[MarkyM607]

That's nice. I think I'll have to get out my extra effort skills (if I have any) and make this the best I can. He seems almost to be waiting for the call to get on board and start her up!.

[MarkyM607]

Hi, just a quick update, painting of the fuselage started as I think it will be difficult when the wing and struts are in place. I have gone for the all over top fuselage camo scheme, as I have a picture of a 240 Squadron aircraft which seems to have all over camo. The pic is also in the right part of the world so 191 (the squadron I am doing), might well have had the same scheme at some point.
Plus I have evidence of both all over top schemes and part top (top in front of wing and rear fuselage behind wing) so no clear evidence of 191 in 1944.

And the wing centre section...

I have also found enough visual data online to attempt the beaching gear so that will come next. Not sure if there are two wheels each side at front or one, and one or two smaller wheels at the tail support so will have a guess with two.

[Kitaholic]

Seems to be two on all gear

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=catal ... Ggodp6gDIA

Although you're bound to find some with one on now

[MarkyM607]

Thanks Kit, that's massively helpful ta. Even got some pics of the beaching gear legs themselves which I was having to guess most of so I owe you here!.

[lancfan]

Brilliant job Mark.

David.

[MarkyM607]

Thank you Sir. Beaching gear almost done, pics tomorrow. Quite pleased with how it's turned out if I do say so myself. No time to post pics today but will try tomorrow.

[MarkyM607]

Nearly there! (I hope). Fuselage close to being done and wings underway. Quite pleased with the beaching gear, parts from various sources. Kitaholic gave me a brilliant link to pics of Catalina's on beaching gear although I still seem to have taken my own slant on what they should look like!!.
Tail support gear...

Forward gear before painting and wheels attached.


All gear attached and painted... (she seems level!! )


Centre wing section...

The outer wings are also build but do not yet have their floats attached.