Consolidated Canso Catalina PBY PB2B A-10 OA-10 Black Cat
![](/documents/aircraft/_icdisplay/200000357-002.webp)
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 Owned (274) RCAF 400 Squadrons (18) Canadian Crewed (83) Canadian Museum (3)Canso A / 2SR 11041
Loaned to BCATP for use at No. 3 Operational Training Unit at RCAF Station Patricia Bay, BC on 1 June 1944. To Canadian Pacific Airlines for repairs in July 1944, transferred to No. 22 Sub Repair Depot for completion of repairs on 9 December 1994, returned to WAC on 25 March 1945. To No. 2 Air Command for storage on 7 August 1945. Originally planned as a freighter conversion, was delivered to de Havilland Canada on 2 October 1948 for conversion to Mk. 2SR search and rescue configuration. Airframe time when it arrived was 512:55. Completed on 19 May 1949, to No. 6 Repair Depot in Ontario for storage. Assigned to RCAF Station Greenwood, NS on 26 September 1949. Back to DHC on 15 June 1950 for installation of JATO provisions. To No. 6 RD for inspection on 11 September 1950. Issued to North West Air Command on 10 November 1950. At RCAF Station Sea Island, BC, used by No. 123 (R) Unit, in January 1951. Transferred to No. 121 (CR) Flight on 10 July 1951. To Kamloops, BC winter of 1951 for Operation Royce, coded ""QT*041". To Aircraft Industries Limited on 7 April 1955 for reconditioning, a major inspection, and modifications, including removal of the ARN2 radar homing receiver fixed provisions and wiring. On 29 June 1955 reported as 2270:10 airframe time since new, 1739:55 since overhaul. Assigned to be fitted with prototype SARAH VHF homing system on 11 September 1956. Back to No. 121 (CR) Flight on 28 November 1956. Still with this unit when it crashed during medevac mission at Prince Rupert, BC on 30 June 1959. Srtuck a submerged log while landing. Scrapped at Sea Island with assistance of Canadian Pacific Airlines.1944-02-12 Taken on Strength Western Air Command 2019-08-20
1959-07-22 Struck off Strength Struck off after Category A crash, see comments 2019-08-20