The Catalina Flying Boat in Australian service during WWII

The Catalina flying boat shaped Pacific War operations, delivering strategic reach, rescue capabilities, and enduring sacrifice in Australian service.The RAAF effort during the Pacific War was massive, with glamorous types such as Spitfires, P-40s, Beaufighters and Hudsons grabbing most of the attention. While the ungainly Catalina flying boat played an equally important frontline role in the conflict, its contribution remains largely unheralded. Catalinas had unique characteristics and were in the combat zone from the first day of the war to the last, serving in several key roles.From the earliest desperate weeks of the Pacific War, RAAF Catalinas serving as bombers were one of the few Allied types with the range to strike the key Japanese base of Rabaul. Catalinas also monitored the enemy advance up to the Battle of the Coral Sea and paid a heavy price at the hands of Japanese fighters.From 1943 the Catalina force began expanding, and eventually 168 of the flying boats were received by the RAAF. These made a major strategic contribution to the war over the next two years, undertaking a successful minelaying campaign that ranged throughout the Netherlands East Indies and beyond as far as the Chinese coast.Catalinas also provided the RAAF with a valuable air-sea rescue capability, while others serving with Qantas maintained what was the longest regular airline route in the world between Perth and Ceylon.This is a complete operational history of the Catalina in Australian service during WWII, during which 225 airmen lost their lives.Table of ContentsAbout The AuthorAcknowledgementsGlossary and AbbreviationsMapsIntroductionChapter 1 – Aircraft that Float: The Flying BoatChapter 2 – Northern Guardians: Australia Acquires the CatalinaChapter 3 – The RAAF’s Catalinas DescribedChapter 4 – September 1939 – November 1941: Prelude and PreparationChapter 5 – December 1941 – January 1942: Disasters and DefianceChapter 6 – Late January – May 1942: Resistance and RetreatChapter 7 – May 1942 – April 1943: Recovery and ResurgenceChapter 8 – May 1943 – August 1945: Victory and VindicationChapter 9 – Other Tasks: Supporting Covert Operations and Air-Sea RescueChapter 10 – Maintaining a Critical Connection: the Civil CatalinasChapter 11 – Prominent Catalina AircrewChapter 12 – The Verdict: Assessing the Catalina in Australian ServiceAppendix 1 – Catalina Deliveries to the RAAFAppendix 2 – Aircrew Losses Suffered by RAAF Catalina UnitsAppendix 3 – Targets Mined by RAAF CatalinasSourcesIndex of Personnel Read more