Gary's PBY

[Clifford Bossie]

Though I never met the man in person we had discussed airplanes online, so on a recent trip to Pima I enjoyed seeing the PBY hull that Gary sent to Pima. It will be a donor for a PBY restoration along with several other airframes. While suffering from corrosion the hull is basically sound. My understanding is that the Aussies are supposed to collect the blisters for a restoration down under.

[pilot06]

CB,

Goes to show that Gary was on the right track. Hard to believe it was going to scrapped out.

PC

[JohnH]

If they let me, I'm hoping to have what will be a very emotional reunion with this airplane in April, because my band is playing right down the street at the Del Sol casino.

[Neal Nurmi]

Thanks for posting these -- this airframe's continued existence really says something about Gary's place in our world.

I surely do miss that man, in so many ways...

[Second Air Force]

Airsho 1984:





Scott

[Ztex]

http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/351494.html

[PbyCat-Guy]

In the second photo, there is what I think is a PBY forward fuselage. What's the deal on that? What about the DAK behind the second PBY? Cool to see these photos.

[Clifford Bossie]

In the second photo, there is what I think is a PBY forward fuselage. What's the deal on that? What about the DAK behind the second PBY? Cool to see these photos.

There are parts to three, or four Cats. The nose is part of a hull that someone was converting to a yacht and is mostly a hulk. Some Aussies aquired the nose gun portion for the restoration down under. The same restoration that the blisters from Gary's Cat will go to.





Also parts of an OA-10 waterbomber that crashed.



The Gooney Bird is a C-47B 45-1074. There have been various plans over the years for it, but I really do not know what is in store.

This is a shot from the Way-back-machine, circa 1979.



And as it is at Pima.







I do like airplanes and pictures of airplanes. I probably take and post too many.

[avenger2504]

I was reading the latest Classic Wings magazine and I was amazed to learn there were 9 Catalinas in Australia either in Museums or on display with 2 airworthy. Here in New Zealand we have 1 airworthy, one under restoration at the Air Force Museum and one restored fuselage in display at another museum. Plus in Australia there were a few "Cats" turned into houseboats that are still around!!

[Canso42]

N68756 is now the fourth PBY hull at Pima. WIXer David Legg would be the one to nail down the details on all the hulls there.

[David Legg]

Prompted by Canso 42 above (Hi Doug!), here are the details of the Pima Catalina hulls...

* The ex-CAF one in the first photo - PBY-5A N68756 c/n 1954 ex-BuAer46590
* The silver and red one in subsequent photos - unidentified former RCAF Canso A but probably either s/n 9839 or 9829
* The red-all-over one - PBY-5A N322FA c/n 560 ex-BuAer02963/NC30005/CF-GLX/C-FGLX
* In addition but not illustrated is PBY-5A N10609 c/n 1758 ex-BuAer48396

Regarding the ex-RCAF Canso A, this was one of four acquired from the RCAF by the Ventress family and stored on a farm in Ontario. Of these four, only one was converted to a motor cruiser but it was not the one now at Pima as suggested further above. It was in fact RCAF 11029 Sad Sack.

[viking73]

I probably take and post too many.

No such thing as too many airplane photos my friend!!

-Derek

[Miscue]

Hard to believe that the CAF just let the PBY rot on the flight line for so many years.......

[Pat Carry]

Gary's heart & soul lives on!

[Miscue]

Yes, it definately does. I had always wanted to meet the man and thank him for saving "her".