Consolidated PBY Catalina: The Peacetime Record (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is the most concise documentation on the entire family of PBY Catalinas." -- PBY Catalina International Association, James Morrison, April 2002

Product Description

With its distinctive design, the PBY Catalina flying boats soared through World War II and into history as one of the most resourceful aircraft ever flown. Other books concentrate on the Catalina's wartime feats, but this is the first full account of the PBY's colorful operational history outside of the war. Catalina expert David Legg offers an exhaustive country-by-country survey of both the military and commercial uses of this adaptable aircraft with detailed listings of their registration, type, place of manufacture, and construction numbers. Intriguing historical notes on an individual aircraft's adventures while fighting fires, performing survey work, and flying in support of Cold War communications networks, round out the volume. Everyone interested in flying boats will find the details of this work not only informative, but entertaining as well.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 297 pages
• Publisher: US Naval Institute Press (March 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1557502455
• ISBN-13: 978-1557502452
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #407,124 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Reference Volume, February 28, 2009

By	Allan Gardner Lebaron "Hardwick Vermont Company" (Moulton, Alabama) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

[...]