Customer Reviews

US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Atlantic War (Combat Aircraft)

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By the time the second world war started the Consoladated PBY was already obsolete. The Navy had already ordered its replacement the Martin PBM which was better in every mesurable way - speed, payload, range, etc. But the venerable PBY was ready, it was in production, and it worked. Over four thousand were produced, vs about 1200 PBMs.

This book gives the history of the design of the PBY, and talks of its use, concentrating on the units that worked in the Atlantic where it did all of the tasks that you expect of a patrol bomber, escourting convoys, light cargo movement including people such as Eisenhower and his staff from England to Gibralter where he commanded the early stages of Torch, the invasion of North Africa.

It was also a PBY, a Catalina of the RAF that first spotted the Bismark (not to say the pacific fleet at Midway, but that was in the Pacific war).

The PBY was probably not the prettiest airplane with it's angular features and it's wing having to have support struts. But it had a workman's appearance when compared with the PBM, king of like the B-17 when compared to the B-24.

This book is well written, profusely illustrated and exhaustively researched.

Finally a well written and researched book on US PBY units in the Atlantic War. Ragnar manages to bring a concise and well documented description of what actions the US PBY's did before and after the start of WW II. I especially liked the attention to detail on individual plane serial numbers and and the VP squadrons. He covers all units and gives good highlites of the individual pilots and crewmen involved in that long and dangerous campaign. I cannot wait for further books from this PBY expert.

I haven't purchased this yet, but plan to now that I found a reason. On page 61 is a photograph of my late uncle, (On my mother's side) who sank U-590.

So it's obvious that I have a very biased view of this book. :)

Very pleasant reading, good background information even for someone new to reading about operating a PBY in wartime. Great pictures that clearly show the weather influences of the Atlantic ocean and the human side.

The detailed study on the development of the PBY as an introduction helped to set the basis of how important this "old" aircraft was in the defeat of the 'modern' U-boat.

Pictures are clearly described in detail. All through the book, it tells about the struggle to overcome the dominance early in the war of the german U-boat and the slow change in numbers and tactics to help the convoys getting through unharmed.

I really like reading the Search and Rescue stories that showed the versatility of landing a PBY anywhere.

It exactly contains what the title says.

If you are looking for a book that descibes the PBY, see:

PBY Catalina - Walk Around No. 5; ISBN-10: 0897473574

PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat; ISBN-10: 0870215264

PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat

My 91 year old Uncle Mike was a PBY pilot during WWII and we purchased this book for him as a Christmas present. He said it was the best present he has received in a long time! Pictures, details, and stories brought back a lot of good memories for him. If you were a pilot or a crew member of the PBY you will really enjoy this book.

The book is a good overall account of the PBY in the European War of WWII against Germany. It also has accounts of production and reconnosance work done before and after the war in the Atlantic.

This is a well written, well documented book regarding the PBY and Navy crews in the Atlantic during WWII. The pictures are black and white and sometimes difficult to see. I am looking forward to the similiar book on the Pacific operations of the PBY.

When thinking of legendary WWII warbirds, Consolidated's PBY does not automatically spring to mind. Yet the lumbering, big-winged Catalina saw combat from the first day of the war to the last, serving in all theaters. Its record of service in U.S. Navy squadrons in the Atlantic is covered in this Osprey volume, #65 in their 'Combat Aircraft' series.

Arguably the most sucessful patrol bomber ever, the PBY was absolutely crucial to the Allies' victory over German U-boats in the Atlantic. PBY crews flew thousands of hours, boring holes in the skies searching for the tell-tale feather of a periscope or - if the gods were with you - a fully surfaced U-boat.

During the war, USN PBYs sank 19 U-boats, more than half the total claimed by all Allied Catalina units. Given the aircraft's slow speed and inadequate armament - one/two .30 caliber popguns in the bow and single .50 calibers in waist blisters - that record speaks for the courage and skill of Navy Catalina crews.

Author Ragnar Ragnarsson details the kills scored by USN PBYs, other missions less successful and the often horrendous weather conditions that marked all Atlantic PBY operations. Ragnarsson's text is complemented by over 90 black & white photos including rare combat shots and 10 pages of color sideviews by Jim Laurier.

All in all, a nicely done tribute to the brave PBY crewmen who played such a great role in defeating the U-boat threat.

Hi friends:

This book are very good! I recomend!

Best regard,

The book was a boring read about the units that operated the PBY. I was looking for more about the aircraft itself. The book did spend some time describing the "teething" problems of the 1 thru 5A models but not enough on the aircraft and the training necessary for pilots to be certified.

This was a VERY remarkable aircraft for it's time. It flew for hours on two engines and had huge wings that sacrificed speed for lift and endurance.