CANSO PBY-5A Catalina ’Miss Pick Up’

Canadian Vickers Canso Catalina, ’Miss Pick Up’, G-PBYA, displaying at its Imperial War Museum, Duxford base during the Duxford Flying Finale 2023. This Catalina is operated by Plane Sailing Air Displays Limited on behalf of Catalina Aircraft Limited, supported by its own ‘fan club’ – The Catalina Society. The aircraft was originally ordered for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as a Canso ’A’ amphibian, equivalent to the US Navy PBY-5A. It was built by Canadian Vickers at Cartierville, Quebec and given constructors number CV-283 before adopting RCAF serial 11005. Catalina’s were named ’Canso’s’ by the RCAF after the town of that name in Nova Scotia, Canada. Taken on charge by the RCAF on 27 October 1943, it initially served with 9 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron at Bella Bella on the British Columbia coast between Vancouver and Prince Rupert Island. It was on their inventory from November to the following August. 9 Squadron had been based at Bella Bella for some tim