CATALINA TO SEARCH FOR AMELIA

Air Classics, Mar 2004

PBY-5A being rebuilt for unique mission

Famed oceanographic researcher Robert Ballard (of Titanic fame) has been undertaking extensive exploration regarding the ever-intriguing disappear' ance of aviators Amelia Earhart, Fred Noonan, and their Lockheed 10 during an around-the-world flight. While details are still secret, Ballard and his team have apparently found a very positive reading on what could be the remains of the Lockheed on the ocean floor "somewhere off Howland island." Could one of the last great aviation mysteries he solved?

Well, we will probably know sometime this year. At Greybull, Wyoming, work is ncaring completion on the rebuild of Consolidated PBY-5A N314CF which is owned by one of Ballard's partners and will be the principal aircraft in the final hunt for Amelia (a USN PBY did participate in the initial search for the missing Lockheed).

This aircraft is interesting in that it is one of the last surviving Royal Canadian Air Force Canso As (the Commonwealth name for the Catalina) built by Consolidated rather than those under license from Canadian Vickers or Canadair. The Canso was delivered to the RCAF on 13 January 1942 and operated until February 1946 at which time, along with numerous other Cansos, it was declared surplus to needs and struck from service. During its military career, RCAF 9750 flew with No. 116 (BR) Squadron which was formed in June 1941 and operated until it disbanded in June 1945. During this time period, the unit operated from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Botwood, Shelboume; Gander; and Sydney.

With Canso/Catalina airframes in demand in the post-war surplus market, RCAF 9750 became CF-DIL on the Canadian civil register. Not much information survives on its early civil career but the plane was converted as an airliner and it later operated with Wheeler Airlines, Wheeler Northland Airlines, and Ilford Riverton Airways. One bit of information that does survive is that the aircraft received substantial damage on 17 July 1958 during landing at Ungava, Quebec. However, there were no injuries and the Canso was repaired.

By 1974, the amphibian was being operated by Can-Air in Vancouver who also operated two other Catalinas and used them for hauling fishing parties to remote areas of British Columbia with CF-DIL becoming Fisherman's Special. Strangely, in 1983 the plane was sold to assume a new career - that of a fire bomber. By this time, many Catalinas had been phased out of that mission but CF-DIL became part of the Flying Fireman of Victoria, British Columbia. Suitably modified, the craft became Tanker 5 which was later changed to Tanker 775. In 1988, the company became A wood Air.

With the Catalina fleet in Canada growing decidedly long in the tooth, Awood retired Tanker 775 but its career was long from over. The plane made the epic journey east across the Atlantic to Spain where it went on contract with ICONA under the auspices of new owner SAE.SA. In April 1993, the craft assumed the Spanish civil registration EC-PRO after flying in the temporary markings of EC-313.

The fire homber found its main hasc at Cuatro Vientos and still wore its basic Flying Fireman's red and white color scheme. The aircraft did not see a lot of operation and in October 1996 EC-FRG was sold to Al Hansen of Mojavc, California. Carrying the new registration of N314CF, Al and his crew completed the epic ferry flight to Mojave where he painted the amphibian in pre-war US Navy markings. At the time, Al hoped to replace the long-gone fuselage blisters along with other military equipment.

The plane still retained its fire-bombing equipment and in 1999 there was some discussion with John Wells about operating the Catalina with his Airborne Fire Attack company but this did not come to fruition. Another interesting idea came up when discussions were held to use N314CF in an epic expedition to find the wreckage of Russian Sigismund Lavanevski's long-range N-209 which disappeared on a flight from Moscow to Fairbanks in August 1937. It is thought that the aircraft went down in the vicinity of Camden Ray which is west of Kaktovik, Alaska. During the original search fur the missing Russian, the famous PBY flying hoat Guba was utilized in the search. Although the modem search did not come about, Al and his crew did take the Cat north for the Wings Over Alaska Commemorative Flight which celebrated the extensive use of the PBY in that State.

Placed for sale, the aircraft was sold to Ballard's partner and then ferried to Hawkins & Powers in Greybull. Initially, basic maintenance work and the addition of a state-of-the-art avionics panel was to be undertaken so the aircraft could fly on to Howland Island for the expedition. However, upon arrival, an examination revealed the Catalina to be in extremely poor condition and a full rebuild was launched which is including the addition of the original fuselage blisters. Watch for further updates on this most interesting of projects.