Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina Relic Display by Ron Cole

The Consolidated PBY Catalina was one of the most widely used seaplanes used in the USA and air forces from around the world. It had an extremely long range and was used for reconnaissance, submarine patrol and air sea rescue. There were many notable missions and engagements of the PBY; One PBY searched and found the Japanese fleet of Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, setting the stage for the Battle of Midway. Flying for the RAF, a Catalina I spotted the Bismark which led to its being sunk by the Royal Navy. Another PBY rescued 56 sailors in high seas from the heavy cruiser USS Indianapolis after it was sunk during World War II. When there was no more room inside the aircraft, the crew tied sailors to the wings.

History of this aircraft: PBY-5A s/n 1759:

During 1960, Mr. Thomas Kendall, a retired businessman, with his luxury converted Catalina PBY, registration N5593V, landed on the sandy coast of Ras Al-Sheik Hameed (Saudi Arabia), with his wife and children. On the following day, after anchoring the aircraft, they were ambushed by Bedouins of the Saudi Arabian army, who mistakenly believed it to be a military attack. The firing lasted for about 30–40 minutes, during which Mr. Thomas and his family were able to swim back to the aircraft, but with him being wounded, managed to move it just 800 meters away from the firefight. After being captured by the Bedouins, Mr. Thomas and his family were eventually taken to Jeddah, interrogated, and set free with the help of the American ambassador, Mr. Donald R. Heath. The remains of the PBY have not been moved since, and it is slowly succumbing to the environment. 

The aluminum skin parts from this PBY have been sourced from a larger panel taken from this aircraft's resting place c. 1980s and was part of a retired Boeing executive's collection of U.S. Navy aircraft memorabilia. While Mr. Thomas Kendall repainted this aircraft in 1957, the Saudi Arabian desert has slowly stripped his civil colors away and these parts reveal only the World War II-era dark Navy-blue colors.  

Signed and numbered. Very limited to 75 11x17 (not including frame) wall-hanging displays.