Description
- Model No: 12487
- Scale 1:72
- Age 14+
The Consolidated PBY Catalina is a flying boat that was first introduced in 1936. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. During the War the Catalina was used in multiple roles including anti-submarine warfare, convoy escort, search and rescue and cargo transport.
This particular model is of the "Black Cat" Catalina. During the Guadalcanal campaign in 1942 some U.S Navy PBY Catalinas were painted matte black and sent on night bombing, torpedoing, and strafing missions against Japanese supply vessels and warships. These PBYs were later called "Black Cats".
Subsequently, special squadrons of Black Cats were formed. Flying slowly at night, dipping to ship mast height, the Black Cats bombed, strafed, and torpedoed all kinds of Japanese vessels, sinking or damaging thousands of tons of shipping.
The Catalina was a very successful and long serving sea plane. Although it left U.S Military service in 1957 as of 2014 the PBY Catalina was still being used in aerial fire fighting. So if you are after a model of a long serving Flying Boat then i think still being in use 80 years after its first flight makes the Catalina a contender.
