commemorative air force ods under threatening skies at … · mam’s warbirds over the beach caf...

July 2016

Old Dominion Squadron Franklin Municipal Airport

32454 John Beverly Rose Drive Franklin, Virginia 23851

E-Mail:

[email protected]

On the Web:

www.OldDominionSquadron.org www.Facebook.com/OldDominionSquadron

Stinson

OY-1 Sentinel

Nasty Break V

The Official Monthly Newsletter of the Old Dominion Squadron,

Commemorative Air Force

Fairchild

J2K-2 Forwarder

Miss Cherie II

ODS Under Threatening Skies at

MAM’s Warbirds Over the Beach

◄ CAF Cols Tom McNamara,

Bob Collette, Buck Barrett,

Parker Livingston, Larry Stout,

Todd Fisher at the PX

CAF Col Buck Barrett

with ODS’ Glenn L. Martin

dorsal gun turret ►

◄ Military Aviation Museum

on the ground and

in the air ▼

Photography:

CAF Col Karen Stout

July 2016 Taildragger

Honoring American Military Aviation through Flight, Exhibition and Remembrance

Old Dominion Squadron 2016 Operations Inside This Issue

ODS

Operations and Events

Old Dominion Squadron 2016 Operations

2-3

Old Dominion Squadron, EAA Chapter 339 Cook Up Monthly

Pancake Breakfasts

4

Old Dominion Squadron/ EAA 339’s

May Pancake Breakfast

5

ODS

Member News

and Information

On Safety

6-7

ODS PX Reminder;

ODS June Birthdays;

Charitable Planning; ODS

2016 Saturday Membership Meeting Schedule

8

CAF Col Tom Swartzlander, Jr.

Challenges Old Dominion

Squadron Membership

9

ODS 2016 Adopt A Hangar

Program

10

In Formation With CAF Col Michael Kuhnert’s

Fairchild PT-19 Cornell

11

ODS

Meeting News and

Information

ODS Meeting Minutes/

June 11, 2016

12-13

Consolidated PBY Catalina Operations

14-16

ODS Contact/Officer Listing

16

ODS Membership Application

17

The Old Dominion Squadron’s

initial 2016 Operations schedule

is listed at right. Events and dates

are subject to change as the year

progresses. See future issues of

Taildragger for Operations

additions and updates.

Squadron members who are aware

of or have additional information

about other 2016 air shows or

similar events within about a 150

mile radius of Franklin Municipal

Airport are encouraged to contact

ODS’ Operations Officer, CAF

Col Michael Kuhnert, as soon as

possible. CAF Col Kuhnert will

follow up and negotiate ODS

aircraft, turret and PX appearances

with those events offering the most

potential for the Squadron.

The Old Dominion Squadron

will also need several volunteers

to attend each 2016 event to help

support ODS aircraft, turret, PX

setup and sales activities as well

as Squadron recruiting efforts.

Contact CAF Col Kuhnert for

more information and to sign

up for specific events of interest.

CAF Col Michael Kuhnert Operations Officer

2016

EVENT

LOCATION

CITY/STATE

FAIRCHILD

J2K-2

FORWARDER

STINSON

OY-1

SENTINEL

GLENN L.

MARTIN

DORSAL GUN

TURRET

TRAVELING

PX

Status

FRI-SUN

APRIL 22-24

Airpower Over Hampton Roads

Langley Air Force Base

Hampton, Virginia ● ● ●

Complete

SAT

MAY 7

Wings, Wheels and Crafts

Mecklenburg-Brunswick

Regional Airport

South Hill, Virginia ● ●

Complete

FRI-SUN

MAY 20-22

Warbirds Over the Beach

Military Aviation Museum

Virginia Beach, Virginia ● ● ●

Complete

SAT

JULY 2

Fly-In Crisfield-Somerset County Airport

Crisfield, Maryland ●

Working

MON

JULY 4

Fourth of July Flyover

Yorktown, Gloucester

Point, Virginia

● ● Working

SAT

JULY 9

Class of ‘43 Gathering of WWII

Aircraft

Williamsburg-Jamestown

Airport

Williamsburg, Virginia ● ●

Working

SAT-SUN

AUG 20-21

New Garden Air Show

New Garden Airport

Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania ●

Working

SAT

SEPT 10

Airport Fly-In

Tappahannock Municipal Airport

Tappahannock, Virginia ●

Working

SAT-SUN

SEPT 10-11

NAS Oceana Air Show

Naval Air Station Oceana


Working

THURS-SAT

SEPT 15-17

Let Freedom Ring Air Show

Lonesome Pine Airport

Wise, Virginia ●

Working

SAT-SUN

SEPT 24-25

Wings and Wheels

Hummel Field

Topping, Virginia ● ● ● ●

Working

WED-SAT

SEPT 28-

OCT 1

NIFA Region X SAFECON

Franklin Municipal Airport

Franklin, Virginia

Working

SAT

OCT 8

Airfest Culpeper Regional Airport

Culpeper, Virginia ●

Working

SAT

OCT 8

Virginia Festival of Flight

Suffolk Municipal Airport

Suffolk, Virginia ● ● ●

Working

SAT

OCT 29

Open House

USCG Air Station

Elizabeth City, North Carolina ● ● ●

Working



Old Dominion Squadron 2016 Operations

2016

EVENT

LOCATION

CITY/STATE

FAIRCHILD

J2K-2

FORWARDER

STINSON

OY-1

SENTINEL

GLENN L.

MARTIN

DORSAL GUN

TURRET

TRAVELING

PX

Status

FRI-SUN

APRIL 22-24

Airpower Over Hampton Roads

Langley Air Force Base

Hampton, Virginia ● ● ●

Complete

SAT

MAY 7

Wings, Wheels and Crafts

Mecklenburg-Brunswick

Regional Airport

South Hill, Virginia ● ●

Complete

FRI-SUN

MAY 20-22

Warbirds Over the Beach

Military Aviation Museum


Complete

SAT

JULY 2

Fly-In Crisfield-Somerset County Airport

Crisfield, Maryland ●

Working

MON

JULY 4

Fourth of July Flyover

Yorktown, Gloucester

Point, Virginia

● ● Working

SAT

JULY 9

Class of ‘43 Gathering of WWII

Aircraft

Williamsburg-Jamestown

Airport

Williamsburg, Virginia ● ●

Working

SAT-SUN

AUG 20-21

New Garden Air Show

New Garden Airport

Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania ●

Working

SAT

SEPT 10

Airport Fly-In

Tappahannock Municipal Airport

Tappahannock, Virginia ●

Working

SAT-SUN

SEPT 10-11

NAS Oceana Air Show

Naval Air Station Oceana


Working

THURS-SAT

SEPT 15-17

Let Freedom Ring Air Show

Lonesome Pine Airport

Wise, Virginia ●

Working

SAT-SUN

SEPT 24-25

Wings and Wheels

Hummel Field

Topping, Virginia ● ● ● ●

Working

WED-SAT

SEPT 28-

OCT 1

NIFA Region X SAFECON

Franklin Municipal Airport

Franklin, Virginia

Working

SAT

OCT 8

Airfest Culpeper Regional Airport

Culpeper, Virginia ●

Working

SAT

OCT 8

Virginia Festival of Flight

Suffolk Municipal Airport

Suffolk, Virginia ● ● ●

Working

SAT

OCT 29

Open House

USCG Air Station

Elizabeth City, North Carolina ● ● ●

Working



Old Dominion Squadron,

EAA Chapter 339

Cook Up Monthly Pancake Breakfasts The Commemorative Air Force’s Old Dominion

Squadron and EAA Chapter 339 of Chesapeake,

Virginia cook up pancake breakfasts once again in

2016 on the fourth Saturday of each month (except

December). Each pancake breakfast takes place in

the Old Dominion Squadron’s hangar at Franklin

Municipal Airport (FKN) in Franklin, Virginia.

Breakfast is served from 8:30 to 10:30 AM. The cost

per person is a $7.00 donation.

Pancake breakfasts are jointly prepared by the Old

Dominion Squadron and EAA Chapter 339. Both

organizations will need volunteers at the Squadron’s

hangar each month to assist.

2016

June 25

July 23

August 27

September 24

October 22

November 26



Old Dominion Squadron/EAA 339’s

May Pancake Breakfast

◄(Left to right) CAF Cols Buck Barrett

and John Friesz . . .

. . . along with Tom McNamara

prepare breakfast for visiting pilots ►

Photography:

CAF Col Karen Stout



I would like to put some emphasis

on ground safety this month and

talk about some of the challenges

and issues surrounding operating on

the ground around the aircraft

whether it be at an air show, at a

pancake breakfast or maintaining

aircraft and equipment.

FLIGHT LINE SAFETY

Hearing Protection

The flight line is a place of

dangerous activity.

The noise on a flight line from

Aircraft is one source of danger.

This sound pollution has its own

frequency of sound. On the ramp

or flight line this can cause hearing

loss.

There are many types of hearing

protection available. Hearing

protection can be external or

internal. The external protection

is the earmuff/headphone type.

The internal type fit into the

auditory canal. Both types will

reduce the sound level reaching

the eardrum and reduce the chances

of hearing loss.

Hearing protection should also be

used when working with pneumatic

drills, rivet guns, or other loud or

noisy tools or machinery. Because

of their high frequency, even short

duration exposure to these sounds

can cause a hearing loss. Continued

exposure will cause hearing loss.

Foreign Object Damage (FOD)

FOD is any damage caused by any

loose object to aircraft, personnel,

or equipment. These loose objects

can be anything from broken

runway concrete to shop towels

to safety wire.

To control FOD, keep ramp and

operation areas clean, have a tool

control program, and provide

convenient receptacles for used

hardware, shop towels, and other

consumables.

Aircraft on The Ramp

It is important to be aware of

propellers. Do not assume the pilot

of a taxiing aircraft can see you.

Strive to stay where the pilot can

see you while on the ramp area.

There should be no smoking or

open flames anywhere near an

aircraft in operation. Be aware

of aircraft fluids that can be

detrimental to skin. When operating

support equipment around aircraft,

be sure to allow space between it

and the aircraft and secure it so it

cannot roll into the aircraft. All

items in the area of operating

aircraft must be stowed properly.

Fire Safety

Performing maintenance on aircraft

and their components requires the

use of electrical tools which can

produce sparks, along with heat-

producing tools and equipment,

flammable and explosive liquids,

and gases. As a result, a high

potential exists for fire to occur.

Measures must be taken to prevent

a fire from occurring and to also

have a plan for extinguishing it.

The key to fire safety is knowledge

of what causes fire, how to prevent

it, and how to put it out. This

(Continued on page 7)

On Safety

CAF Col Tom Swartzlander, Jr. Safety Officer



knowledge must be instilled in

each person working or exposed

to aircraft operating areas. Airport

or other local fire departments can

normally be called upon to assist in

training personnel and helping to

establish fire safety programs for

the hangar, shops, and flight line.

When using a fire extinguisher,

make sure you have the correct

type for the fire. Most extinguishers

have a pin to pull that will allow

the handle to activate the agent.

Stand back 8 feet and aim at the

base of the fire or flames. Squeeze

the lever and sweep side to side

until the fire is extinguished.

Securing Aircraft on the Ramp

Aircraft should be tied down after

flight to prevent damage from

sudden storms. The direction in

which aircraft are to be parked

and tied down is determined by

prevailing or forecast wind

direction.

Aircraft should be headed as

nearly as possible into the wind,

depending on the locations of

the parking area’s fixed tie down

points. Spacing of tie downs

should allow for ample wingtip

clearance. After the aircraft is

properly situated, position the

nose wheel or the tail wheel in

the fore-and-aft position.

Light aircraft are most often

secured with ropes tied only at

the aircraft tie down rings

provided for securing purposes.

Rope should never be tied to a

lift strut, since this practice can

bend a strut if the rope slips to

a point where there is no slack.

Manila rope shrinks when wet;

about 1 inch (1") of slack should

be provided for movement. Too

much slack allows the aircraft

to jerk against the ropes. Tight

tie down ropes put inverted flight

stresses on the aircraft, many of

which are not designed to take

such loads.

A tie down rope holds no

better than the knot. Anti-slip

knots such as the bowline are

quickly tied and are easy to

untie. Aircraft not equipped

with tie down fittings should

be secured in accordance

with the manufacturer’s

instructions. Ropes should

be tied to outer ends of struts

on high-wing monoplanes,

and suitable rings should be

provided where structural

conditions permit, if the

manufacturer has not already

provided them.

Next month we'll talk about

operating aircraft on the ramp.

Source: https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manualsh/aircraft/amt_handbook/media/FAA-8083-30_Ch11.pdf

Photography:

CAF Col Karen Stout



ODS PX

Reminder

Charitable

Planning An easy way to make a planned gift

is by including a bequest in your

will. Through a bequest, you can

make your wishes known today

without relinquishing needed assets

during your lifetime. Both large and

small bequests can play a major role

in the Squadron's development.

A bequest to the Squadron can

be included in the body of your

Last Will and Testament or in an

addition to it through a codicil.

To name the Squadron as the

beneficiary, please use its legal

name, "CAF Old Dominion

Squadron."

As with lifetime gifts, a specific

purpose may be designated for the

use of your bequest. If this is your

desire, you or your lawyer should

contact ODS to make sure the

language used in your will correctly

states the restrictions. Testamentary

gifts to the Squadron are typically

deductible for estate tax purposes

and may be made in several ways.

The Old Dominion Squadron is

looking for several volunteers to

attend each air show and other

scheduled events throughout the

2016 tour season. ODS volunteers

will be needed to help transport and

setup the PX as well as support PX

sales activities during these events.

Contact CAF Col Karen Stout,

PX Officer, for more volunteer

information as well as to sign

up for specific shows of interest

throughout the coming year.

Also see future issues of

Taildragger for 2016 Operations

event additions and updates.

ODS June

Birthdays

ODS 2016 Saturday

Membership Meeting Schedule

July 9 @ FKN

August 13 @ FKN

September 10 @FKN

October 8 @ FKN

November 12 @ FKN

FKN:

Franklin Municipal Airport,

Franklin, Virginia

PVG: Hampton Roads Executive

Airport, Chesapeake, Virginia

CAF Col Karen Stout PX Officer

CAF Col Garrett Hendrickson Williamsburg, Virginia

June 9



My Fellow Colonels:

I would like to offer a challenge to all of you regarding a fund raising goal that will go a long way toward a

breakeven balance sheet for this year’s Old Dominion Squadron budget.

It was pointed out at the last officers meeting that the Squadron is about $1,400.00 dollars short of breaking

even for the year. Our fund raising efforts have been notable with ODS’ appearance at Langley AFB’s

AirPower Over Hampton Roads being very successful. Unfortunately, some other attempts have been stymied

by less than safe instrument weather conditions when attempts to appear at fund raisers like Shaw AFB in

South Carolina.

So, I am offering this challenge. I will personally match up to $700.00 plus if you, the Old Dominion

Squadron membership, will contribute about $15.00 each for the balance. That figure is based on 45 members

divided into $700.00.

Your contribution will help the Squadron start the second half of the year with a clean slate going forward. It

will also help cover some extras ODS has incurred such as OY-1 repairs needed during the aircraft’s annual

inspection and the additional insurance coverage required by CAF Headquarters.

The Old Dominion Squadron has a number of events on the calendar such as the NAS Oceana air show, Wings

& Wheels at Hummel Field and others outlined monthly in Taildragger that, if successful and not weathered

out, should put the Squadron in a good position going forward to December.

Remember, contributions are tax deductible. Depending on your tax bracket, it is likely that you could recover

some 40% of your donations to CAF at tax time next year.

To contribute, make your check payable to Old Dominion Squadron, CAF and mail to CAF Col Bob Collette,

4707 Jolliff Woods Drive, Chesapeake, Virginia 23321.

So, I am stepping up. The Old Dominion Squadron needs you once again as well.

Sincerely,


CAF Old Dominion Squadron

Fund Raising Officer


Challenges Old Dominion Squadron

Membership



ODS 2016 Adopt A Hangar Program

CAF Col Todd Fisher Finance Officer

The Old Dominion Squadron’s Adopt A Hangar program

continues in 2016. To adopt the Squadron’s

Franklin Municipal Airport hangar in Franklin, Virginia,

an ODS member or any other interested individual agrees to

contribute as much as they can toward one or more months’ rent.

Current monthly rent is $650. Anyone contributing to one month's rent,

at one time or over a period of several months,

is eligible for a ride in one of the Squadron’s aircraft.

For more Old Dominion Squadron Adopt A Hangar

information and contribution opportunities,

contact CAF Col Todd Fisher, ODS Finance Officer or

CAF Col Bob Collette, ODS Unit Leader/Adjutant.

Make your checks payable to the CAF Old Dominion Squadron

and mail them to either Squadron officer.

JANUARY 2016


CAF Col Ed Lucas

FEBRUARY 2016


CAF Col Bob Collette*

CAF Col Ed Lucas

*Full Month

MARCH 2016

CAF Col Ed Lucas

Anonymous*

*Full Month

APRIL 2016


CAF Col Marion Cecconi*

CAF Col Ed Lucas

*Full Month

MAY 2016


CAF Col Ed Lucas

JUNE 2015


CAF Col Marion Cecconi*

CAF Col Carroll Keeter

CAF Col Ed Lucas

CAF Col Ben Wainwright*

*Full Month

JULY 2015

CAF Col Buck Barrett**


CAF Col Ed Lucas**

*Full Month **Full Month Over Year

AUGUST 2015


CAF Col Allen Karst

CAF Col Ed Lucas CAF Col Tom Swartzlander, Jr.

SEPTEMBER 2015

CAF Col Ed Lucas

OCTOBER 2015



CAF Col Ed Lucas

*Full Month

NOVEMBER 2015


CAF Col Ed Lucas

DECEMBER 2015

CAF Col Ed Lucas



In Formation With CAF Col Michael Kuhnert’s

Fairchild PT-19 Cornell

Photography:

CAF Col Karen Stout



STAFF REPORTS

Unit Leader, CAF Col Bob

Collette, opened the meeting

and led everyone in the Pledge

of Allegiance. Twelve colonels

and one guest (Duckie Wainwright)

were on hand. CAF Col Michael

Kuhnert was presented with his

ODS and CAF five-year

anniversary pin.

Minutes from May's meeting were

accepted as entered into the record.

Administration: Executive

Officer, CAF Col Larry Stout, had

nothing in particular to report.

Financial: CAF Col Todd Fisher

noted that revenues on hand in the

business checking account and

credit card account, along with

receivables pending, now stand at

$6,409. Accounts payable are

$6,800. The Minimum Cost

Recovery Program (MCRP) funds

available for the Squadron's OY-1/

L-5, after subtracting the pending

bill for its annual inspection and

repair of the aircraft rudder, reflect

a balance of $3,926. MCRP for

the J2K-2/UC-61 has dropped to

$7,101. The minimum MCRP

balance for the OY-1 is $5,000.

Minimum MCRP balance for the

J2K-2 is $7,500. When MCRP

balances fall below the minimum,

payments will be required to CAF

Headquarters (based upon hours

flown) until the minimum balance

is once again achieved. There are

currently 46 active members in the

Squadron.

Operations: CAF Col Michael

Kuhnert reported on the proposed

ODS air show event schedule for

the remainder of 2016. Air shows

currently under negotiation

include: July 2 Crisfield,

Maryland (J2K-2); July 4 Fourth

of July Fly-Over at Yorktown

and Gloucester Point, Virginia

(J2K-2 and/or OY-1); July 9

Class of '43 Gathering of World

War II Aircraft at Williamsburg,

Virginia (OY-1, PX); August

20-21 New Garden Air Show at

Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania

(J2K-2); September 10-11 NAS

Oceana Air Show at Virginia

Beach, Virginia (PX, turret,

OY-1,); September 10 Airport

Fly-In at Tappahannock, Virginia

(J2K-2); September 15-17 Let

Freedom Ring air show at

Lonesome Pine Airport in Wise,

Virginia (J2K-2); September 24

Wings and Wheels at Hummel

Field, Virginia (PX, turret, J2K-2,

OY-1); September 28-October 1

NIFA Region X SAFECON at the

ODS hangar at Franklin, Virginia;

October 8 Virginia Festival of

Flight at Suffolk, Virginia (PX,

turret, J2K-2, OY-1); October 29

Open House at USCG Air Station,

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

(PX, J2K-2, OY-1).

Maintenance: CAF Col Al Karst

indicated that both the J2K-2 and

the OY-1 are in an up status. The

J2K-2 annual inspection will have

to be signed off in July. Its oil

pressure gauge may have to be

replaced due to an oil leak.

Safety: Colonel Tom Swartzlander

had nothing in particular to report.

COMMITTEE/PROJECTS

Taildragger: No report was given

as CAF Col Jim Euverard was not

present.

Public Affairs/Communications: CAF Col

Collette, reporting on behalf of

CAF Col Euverard, advised that

Stephen Chapis, the Associate

Editor of Warbird Digest, is

interested in preparing an article

on the Squadron's J2K-2. He has

suggested that, if the Squadron's

J2K-2 is available at Crisfield,

Maryland on July 2, that might be

an excellent venue for obtaining

some suitable air to air photos of

the airplane.

PX: CAF Col Karen Stout had

nothing in particular to report other

than the fact that she, long with

CAF Col Fisher, would be taking

an inventory of the PX supplies

later today.

Recruiting: CAF Col Collette

again expressed concern over the

lack of new recruits to the

organization and requested that

everyone (not just the Recruiting

Officer or Staff members) redouble

efforts to recruit new members. He

will be happy to meet with, and talk


ODS Meeting Minutes/June 11, 2016

CAF Col Bob Collette Squadron Leader/Adjutant



to, anyone who expresses an

interest in the Commemorative

Air Force and the Old Dominion

Squadron.

Fund Raising: CAF Col

Swartzlander had nothing in

particular to report. CAF Col

Parker Livingston previously

contacted the local USMC

recruiting office and suggested

that they consider sponsoring the

Squadron's OY-1, as it is in Marine

Corps markings. They were to

contact the district office in

Richmond to see if funds are

available. CAF Col Livingston

will follow up with them.

Social Report: CAF Col Larry

Stout had nothing to report.

Sunshine Committee: CAF Col

Mary Ann Lucas recently had a

heart valve replaced and pacemaker

installed. She is now home and

doing great.

ODS/EAA Pancake Breakfast: CAF Col Collette reported on

behalf of CAF Col Friesz and

advised that May's Pancake

Breakfast resulted in sales of

$148 for meals and a further

$104 from baked goods.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS CAF Col Collette discussed the

recent imposition of mandatory

Aircraft Excess Liability insurance

upon the Squadron by CAF

Headquarters, which amounted to

approximately $1,775 of additional

premiums the Squadron has to pay.

Through our internal pass the hat

assessment among members of the

Squadron, the vast majority this

additional assessment has been

covered for this year. CAF Col

Collette will be approaching CAF

Headquarters for a more logical

billing process for next year after

the airshow season is over.

CAF Col Collette is preparing

a letter to the Camp Family

Foundations in Franklin requesting

grant assistance for the Squadron.

Applications for foundation grants

must be submitted by September 1

although there is no formal

submission format.

CAF Col John Friesz is having

name tags made for CAF Cols

Bob Fryer and Jim Lieblang so

that they can be added to the

Squadron's Gone West wall plaque.

CAF Col Thomas Hendrickson

was requested to check with a

t-shirt vendor to see if he could

come up a price for t-shirts with

a photo of the J2K-2 to replace

the unsatisfactory product that

the Squadron received from (and

returned to) CustomInk.

NEW BUSINESS

CAF Col Collette briefly discussed

the offer, made by CAF Col Raf

Collado, to assist the Old

Dominion Squadron through the

sale of rides in his privately

owned aircraft. Assuming that

there is no objection from the

organizers of the October 8

Virginia Festival of Flight at

Suffolk, CAF Col Collette will

suggest that event be the one

where aircraft rides are sold with

proceeds (less gas expense) going

to the Squadron.

In an attempt to improve the

Old Dominion Squadron's current

financial posture, CAF Col

Swartzlander made an offer

whereby he will match, dollar

for dollar, up to a total of $700,

donations made to the Squadron

by the membership. He will put a

note in the Taildragger to that

effect.

The next Old Dominion Squadron

membership meeting will take

place at 10:00 AM on July 9, 2016

during CAF Col Kuhnert's Class

of '43 Gathering of World War II

Aircraft Fly-in at Williamsburg-

Jamestown Airport in

Williamsburg, Virginia.

CAF Col Michael Kuhnert (right) receives his

ODS and CAF five-year anniversary pin

from CAF Col Bob Collette, Unit Leader

Photography:

CAF Col Karen Stout



The Consolidated PBY Catalina

was the main long range

reconnaissance aircraft in use

with the US Navy in the first half

of the Second World War. The

flying boat had the right

combination of long range and

operational flexibility to act as

the “eyes of the fleet” in an age

before radar, and in areas where

the US Navy did not have a

network of bases around the world.

During the war the Catalina

would be superseded both by the

development of radar and by the

realisation that long range land

based bombers could perform the

same job, especially once the

United States moved onto the

offensive, capturing or developing

a series of air bases across the

Pacific.

The PBY-1 entered service with

Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11F) in

October 1936, then with VP-12

early in 1937. By the middle of

1938 fifteen squadrons were

operating the PBY, five at Pearl

Harbor and three at Coco Solo

in the Panama Canal Zone, and

by December 1941 21 squadrons

were operational with the PBY

and two more in training.

The PBY Catalina played a vital

part in the battles of 1942, perhaps

most importantly locating the

Japanese fleet at the battle of

Midway. It remained in use

throughout the war, but gradually

lost its front line status, instead

flying long air-sea rescue patrols,

or delivering supplies to isolated

bases. The biggest exception to

this were the squadrons involved

in “Black Cat” missions, attacking

Japanese shipping at night.

Deployment of PBY Squadrons,

7 December 1941:

VP-11: Pearl Harbor

VP-12: Pearl Harbor

VP-14: Pearl Harbor

VP-21: Midway

VP-22: Pearl Harbor

VP-23: Pearl Harbor, Johnston

Island and Palmyra Island

VP-24: Pearl Harbor

VP-31: Various Caribbean islands

VP-32: Panama

VP-41: Kodiak Alaska

VP-42: Seattle

VP-43: Training at San Diego

VP-44: Training at San Diego

VP-52: Natal (Brazil)

VP-71: Argentia (Newfoundland)

VP-72: Argentia (Newfoundland)

VP-73: Reykjavik (Iceland)

VP-81: Key West, operating as

training unit

VP-82: Rhode Island, converting to

land planes

VP-84: Training

VP-91: Training at Norfolk,

Virginia

VP-101: Cavite (Philippines)

VP-102: Cavite (Philippines)

Pearl Harbor

On 7 December 1941 Pearl Harbor

contained the biggest concentration

of PBY squadrons, with VP-11,

VP-12, VP-14, VP-22, VP-23

and VP-24 all based on Oahu.

Between them they were operating

68 PBYs, but despite the high

level of tension no effort was

made to mount regular long range

patrols around Hawaii. Most of

the PBYs were caught on the

ground when the Japanese attacked

and were destroyed in the initial

attack. Two squadrons – VP-11

and VP-22 – were caught on the

ground, and had all of their aircraft

destroyed or damaged beyond

repair. VP-14 and VP-23 had some

PBYs in the air, but still suffered

heavy losses. Three VP-14 aircraft

were patrolling outside the entrance

to Pearl Harbor, and one of them

was involved in the sinking of a

Japanese midget submarine (with

the destroyer USS Ward) in the

first fighting of the day. Despite


Consolidated PBY Catalina Operations Part I of II



this success the squadron lost

seven aircraft destroyed and three

damaged.

VP-23 had four aircraft detached

to Johnston Island and Palmyra

Island, where on the morning of

7 December they were practicing

flying circular patrol patterns, but

still lost eight aircraft in their

hangers during the attack.

In contrast VP-24’s six aircraft

were conducting a joint submarine

exercise off the coast, and lost

no aircraft, while VP-12 had four

aircraft in the air and two on the

ground, of which only one was

destroyed.

Of the 68 PBYs on Oahu on the

morning of 7 December all but a

dozen were destroyed during the

Japanese attack. VP-12 had five

survivors, VP-14 had three and

VP-24 had six. The four detached

aircraft of VP-23 had also survived,

as had all but one aircraft from

VP-21 on Midway.

The Japanese had successfully

blinded the US Navy’s patrol

wings on Hawaii (although one

aircraft from VP-14 did find the

retiring Japanese aircraft 40 miles

north of Oahu after the attack). The

effect was short-lived. Four PBY

squadrons were quickly transferred

from the Atlantic to Pearl Harbor,

while VP-22 completed its training

at high speed.

The Philippines

At the start of December 1941

PatWing 10 was based in the

Philippines, and had two PBY

squadrons – VP-101 and VP-102,

both based at Cavite. In January

1942 VP-22, having completed its

training, left Pearl Harbor on the

first stage of its long journey to

join PatWing 10 via Australia, a

journey that would end in the

Dutch East Indies.

The Japanese quickly established

air supremacy over the Philippines,

eliminating the threat from the

USAAF’s 24th Pursuit Group.

This left the PBYs operating in

hostile skies, where they very

quickly proved to be highly

vulnerable against modern fighters.

The first clashes between the

PBYs and the Japanese came on




Old Dominion Squadron Franklin Municipal Airport

32454 John Beverly Rose Drive Franklin, Virginia 23851

E-Mail:

[email protected]

On the Web:

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UNIT OFFICERS

Squadron Leader/ Adjutant/Recruiting

CAF Col Bob Collette [email protected]

Executive Officer

CAF Col Larry Stout

Finance

CAF Col Todd Fisher

Fund Raising Coordinator


Maintenance

CAF Col Allen Karst

Operations

CAF Col Michael Kuhnert

Public Information/ Newsletter Editor/Web

CAF Col Jim Euverard

PX

CAF Col Karen Stout

Safety


10 December 1941. On this day

aircraft from VP-102 found the

heavy cruisers Ashigara and

Maya. Five PBYs armed with

bombs became the first US Navy

aircraft to attack a Japanese

surface ship. Four PBYs armed

with torpedoes were less

successful, being attack as they

were taking off. Of these four

aircraft one was destroyed

and two were badly damaged,

although not before successfully

shooting down one Zero, the first

of many shot down by Naval

aviators during the war.

PatWing 10 was soon forced to

flee the Philippines. On 12

December seven of their aircraft

were sunk while anchored in

Subic Bay, and the surviving

eleven aircraft were ordered to fly

south to Ambon, in the Dutch East

Indies, leaving on 15 December.

This did not end the PBY’s

involvement in the Philippines.

A long range attack on ships off

Jolo Island on 27 December

ended with the loss of four out

of six aircraft involved. A more

successful return came on 29-30

April, when as part of Operation

Gridiron two PBYs (Boat 1,

piloted by Lt (jg) Tom Pollock

and Boat 7, piloted by Lt (jg)

Leroy Deede) were sent to fly

supplies to Corregidor. Both

aircraft reached their destination,

flying via Lake Lanao on

Mindanao, unloaded their

supplies and took on a number

of evacuees. Boat 7 took off

safely and returned to Australia

as planned. Boat 1 hit a submerged

rock and was delayed until it

could be made watertight, but

also escaped safely.

The Dutch East Indies

PatWing 10’s first wing was

south west, to Balikpapan on

the east coast of Borneo. This

was followed by a move east to

Ambon, in the Maluku Islands,

on 23-25 December. There

VP-101 and VP-102 merged

their assets, operating together

until 18 April when all four

PBY units in the area merged

into VP-101. The wing moved

back west to Surabaya on Java

on 16 January 1942. Finally on

14 February the wing moved to

Australia, first to Darwin (with

only four aircraft remaining)

and then in early March to

Perth. PatWing 10 had also

been joined by VP-22. This

squadron arrived at Ambon

on 20 January, before moving

to Darwin on 5 February, to

Surabaya on 25 March (with

only three aircraft!) and finally

to Perth at the start of

March.

Over the three months between

leaving the Philippines and

moving to Perth the wing lost

60% of its personnel and all

but four of its PBYs. The PBY

crews had fought with great

bravery, but the Catalina was

too slow, too lightly armed and

too lightly armoured to survive

against the hordes of Japanese

fighters that supported the

invasion of the Dutch East

Indies. Japanese aircraft were

free to roam wherever they

wanted, and more of PatWing

10’s aircraft were lost while

on the ground or sea than in

the air. The PBY was simply

not designed to operate in such

difficult circumstances.

Source: HistoryofWar.org



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