Consolidated Canso Catalina PBY PB2B A-10 OA-10 Black Cat
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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 11095
Delivered new to stored reserve. To No. 4 Repair Depot 14 April 1945 for inspection. To RCAF Station Mont Joli, Quebec on 22 May 1945 for storage. Reported on 6 January 1946 as "time since new 415:30, condition good, fitment standard". To de Havilland Canada 8 June 1948 for reconditioning and modification to Mk. 2SR search and rescue configuration. Issued to North West Air Command in December 1948 for use by No. 123 (S&R) Flight at RCAF Station Sea Island, BC. Airframe time on 1 April 1949 was 534:15. Back to DHC on 18 November 1949 for fuel tank repairs, and on 1 May 1950 for JATO installation. With No. 123 (R) Unit at Sea Island when it was dispatched to Bonilla Island (near Price Rupert) with RCN demolition experts to investigate discovery of a floating mine. Lt. Cdr. Boradaille killed during demolition of mine, his body was flown back to Victoria in this aircraft. Category A crash at Sea Island on 19 July 1955.1945-01-02 Taken on Strength Eastern Air Command 2019-08-20
1955-08-23 Struck off Strength Struck off after crash, see comments 2019-08-20