Customer Reviews

Consolidated PBY Catalina: The Peacetime Record

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The PBY, an ungainly looking flying boat initially built by Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, was already obsolete in 1939 when WWII began. Subsequence modifications - the twin 'blisters' aft were added with the PBY-5 which began to be produced about 1938 - improved the utility of the aircraft even as they added drag. In 1940, the -5A model added wheels so the PBY-5A became an amphibian. Thousands were subsequently built in U.S., Canadian, and Russian factories and they served in every theater of WWII where water was available for their operations.

There are, throughout the world, a group of mostly codgers who, among them, know as much about the PBY as Consolidated's engineers ever did. David Legg is one of the elite of this group and this book illustrates why. A meticulous researcher and collector, an ex-PBY crewman, this Englishman's information is valued as the authority. If David Legg can't answer your PBY question, Ragnar Ragnarsson of Iceland or Wynnum Graham of Cairns in Australia probably can. And if they provide an answer, it won't be a "guess" unless they so specify.

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An excellent collection of "Cat" materials and especially relevant to my research project referencing the involvement of the Soviet Union in the 1930's to produce the aircraft at Taganrog, USSR. And the author, a patient Brit, was very supportive in forwarding related materials relevant to my project. Thank you!