The aircraft will be repainted as aircraft #9 with VP-73. This means that the modern “clipper bow” will be removed and replaced by an accurate bow turret and the current interior will be transformed into accurate wartime configuration. Once back in the United States, the aircraft will be sent to restoration for transformation back into the original configuration it flew with in 1942. Naval Aviation in the Battle of the Atlantic in the early days of World War II. 2459 by the Collings Foundation allows us to place this aircraft in a new role to help tell the important story of U.S. The Role of the PBY-5A in the Collings Foundation ![]() 2459 was the second aircraft to sink a submarine using the homing torpedo, a revolutionary development in aircraft based ASW warfare. ![]() Though the sub was initially reported as a damaged by the crew not seeing it sink visually, postwar research confirmed that U-194 was destroyed that day in the North Atlantic. What was unknown to the crew at the time was that the PBY carried a new and secret weapon, a “FIDO” acoustic homing torpedo. After a long surface battle the Captain of U-194, after realizing the PBY would be persistent, dove and attempted to disengage from the Catalina. Depth charging the sub on the surface and exchanging gunfire, the two combatants fought to a standstill. Joseph Beach on June 24, 1943, it proved it still had the heart of a hunter, and spotted U-194 on the surface south of Iceland. Rebuilt at a depot for continued service it reentered the fleet assigned to VP-84, again in Reykjavik, coded as 84-P-7. Returning to the USA, about half of VP-73’s allocated PBY aircraft survived the first deployment. This attack brought VP-73’s score to two sunk, both by Bu. The U-Boat, one of 16 deployed against the convoy was sunk with all hands. Luke and flying the last VP-73 convoy protection mission of the deployment, Bu 2459 protecting convoy HX-209 caught U-582 on the surface and sunk it as it was organizing a wolfpack attack. However on Octoflying with a crew headed by Chief Aviation Pilot M. Hopgood after seeing the crew rescued by a fishing boat, as well the oil slick from the sunken sub sent an “in the clear” radio message that would become iconic in the USN’s patrol community, “Sunk sub, open club!” The ASW detachment in Iceland had been attempting to sink a U-Boat for some time, and the commander of the base, believing that too many late nights at the “O Club” were responsible for the lack of success, had closed the club. RB Hopgood’s crew discovered and sunk U-464 on August 20, 1942. Assigned to VP-73 as aircraft number 9, it was the first PBY to sink a U-Boat, when Lt. 2459 was the fourth amphibious PBY built for the United States Navy, and was immediately pressed into action upon arrival. Accepted by the Navy on December 22, 1941, Bu. 2459 was one of the first five PBY-5A amphibians constructed, and the group was sent to VP-73 as soon as they rolled off the line due to the “extremely hazardous” sea conditions off Iceland. It is also the oldest surviving PBY Catalina and has survived as a flying aircraft since the end of the war.Ĭatalina Bu. 2459 uniquely accounted for three destroyed U-Boats and one damaged that never sailed again - it is the only USN multiple U-Boat killer aircraft known. ![]() The PBY type aircraft accounted for 20 German U-Boats destroyed during the war. ![]() 2459Ĭapable of excellent endurance over the hostile North Atlantic, PBY Catalina aircraft began to protect convoys before aircraft carriers and the evolution of surface ship technology was able to assist them. The World War II History of PBY-5A Catalina Bu.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |