Canadian Vickers Catalina Mk.IIA
Canadian Vickers · Canada · first flew 1942 · transport aircraft
The Catalina Mk.IIA is a Canadian Vickers-built variant of the PBY-5 supplied under Lend-Lease to the RAF and RCAF for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare over the North Atlantic.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Twin R-1830 radials, mid-fuselage observation blisters |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Canadian-built Catalina for RAF Coastal Command maritime patrol
- Pure flying boat hull, no amphibious retractable gear
- Twin R-1830 radials, mid-fuselage observation blisters
Visually identical to US Navy PBY-5 examples; RAF roundels and serial numbers in the JX/JV/FP range confirm the British Commonwealth Catalina Mk.IIA designation.
Specifications
- The Canadian Vickers Catalina Mk.IIA has a length of 19.45 m (64 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 31.7 m (104 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 288 km/h (179 mph).
- Typical crew: 8.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Canadian Vickers at Cartierville, Montreal, built 369 Catalinas of various marks for the British Commonwealth nations under wartime production agreements. The Mk.IIA corresponds to the PBY-5 standard as a pure flying boat, serving with RAF Coastal Command, the RCAF, and other Commonwealth operators from bases in Iceland, the UK, and Canada.
Variants
The Mk.IIA was one of several RAF mark designations for the PBY family; the Mk.IVA (Canso) was the amphibious RCAF equivalent based on the PBY-5A.
Where you'll see it
Operated by RAF Coastal Command squadrons in the North Atlantic anti-submarine role; also used by the RCAF Eastern Air Command for convoy escort and sea rescue.
Related aircraft
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