'Black Cats' Catalina taking shape in Australia

摘要

Staff at the Australian National Air Museum in Moorabbin, Melbourne, are making slow but steady progress on the rebuild of Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina A24-88. The former 42 Squadron aircraft was one of the RAAF's 'Black Cats', which carried out covert operations in World War Two, including a mine-laying raid on Manila Bay [the Philippines] in December 1944. Acquired by the museum in 2003, the Catalina was one of many disposed of at Lake Boga, Victoria, between 1947 and 1949. At least half-a-dozen of the amphibious aircraft were converted into makeshift houseboats and others were used as river barges for the local timber industry. During its time as a houseboat, A24-88 had a marine engine installed and was used for fishing holidays on the Murray River.