Lifting the Catalina Aircraft G-PBYA from Loch Ness onto dry land to enable a replacement engine to be fitted.
G-PBYA was originally ordered for the Royal Canadian Air Force as a Canso A amphibian, basically equivalent to the US Navy PBY-5A. It was built by Canadian Vickers at Cartierville, Quebec and was allocated their constructors number CV-283 before adopting the RCAF serial 11005. It was taken on charge by the air force on 27 October 1943 and initially saw service with 9 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron at Bella Bella on the British Columbia coast between Vancouver and Prince Rupert. It was on their inventory from November to the following August. 9 Squadron had been based at Bella Bella for some time prior to the arrival of Cansos, having operated Supermarine Stranraers there. The Cansos were mainly operated from water despite their amphibious undercarriages and were used on day and night patrols, looking out for enemy submarines. By mid-1944, the threat of a Japanese invasion of Western Canada had receded and it was decided to disband 9 Squadron and close the station at Bella Bella. The Cansos, including 11005, were flown to Alliford Bay in the Queen Charlotte Islands, also in British Columbia, and transferred to 7 (BR) Squadron in August. The job was the same – anti-submarine patrols mostly – and 11005 remained with 7 Sqn until it too was disbanded on 25 July 1945. During this period of 11005’s service, it would have flown with an overall matt white hull and upper surfaces, the lower hull being gloss white. With the war over, 11005 was no longer required in its originally intended role and it entered a period of storage at Moose Jaw before being converted to a freighter in 1948. A number of other RCAF Cansos were similarly converted and records show that they were known, at least on paper, as Canso 2Fs. Subsequently, 11005 flew with 413 Survey (Transport) squadron out of Rockcliffe, Ontario and, later, with 121 CU/CR Flight. 413 (Tusker) Squadron had originally flown Catalinas
Size: 3940px × 2677px
Location: Loch Ness at Drumnadrochit. Scottish Highlands UK.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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