Consolidated Canso Catalina PBY PB2B A-10 OA-10 Black Cat
The Consolidated Catalina and Canso were close cousins. The Canso was the true amphibious version of the design and therefore included a conventional undercarriage to allow for either water or land use. The Canso provided more than two decades of valuable service to the RCAF. The Catalina variant came first and was produced beginning in 1935 for the United States Navy. The amphibious version, designated PBY-5A, came in service early in 1941 and the RCAF began using the aircraft on anti-submarine patrols that same year. After the Second World War, the RCAF used Cansos for search and rescue, Arctic survey missions and various transport operations. RCAF
CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF On Strength (274), RCAF 400 Squadron (13), Canadian Aircraft Losses (82)Canso I AH566
With No. 413 (GR) Squadron, RCAF from July 1941, coded "QL*G". Moved to Sullom Voe on 5 October 1941. Lost off Norwegian coast near Tromso on 22 October 1941. Probably shot down by Bv 138 from Kstenfliegergruppe 706, 80 or 85 nautical miles north-north-west of Molde. Other reports place the crash site further west. All crew listed as missing, including squadron CO W/C R.G. Briese, RCAF. Briese later washed ashore and is now buried at Trondheim (Stavne) Cemetery.