Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

by Bob Costanzo

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This is the Monogram 1/48 scale PBY-5A kit built almost out of box. I replaced the nose mooring/anchor cable with wire and built torpedo mounts.

The kit represents the aircraft flown at the Battle of Midway by Ens. Gaylord Propst. When I first started the kit the information I had at hand suggested that it was his aircraft that registered the only torpedo hit by American aircraft during thr battle. However another publication, probably more accurate, has the PBY of Lt William L. Richards, the flight leader of the mission, scoring the hit on the Japanese tanker Akebono Maru.

The mounts for the torpedo were patterned after photos form the "Catalina Detail and Scale" book although the various texts I have read indicates the torpedos were jury rigged so the actual mount may have been different.

The torpedo came from an Accurate Miniatures Avenger.

Ens. Propst flew with Patrol Squadron 24 and arrived on Midway from Hawaii the day of the mission. The return flight from the strike saw the Catalina's diverted from Midway due to the attacking Japanese. Propst was forced down in the open sea when his fuel gave out and drifted until being found and rescued by another Catalina. 24-P-11 was sunk by it's crew due to extensive damage caused by high seas.

Click on the thumbnails below to view larger images:

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Model, Images and Text Copyright © 2004 by Bob Costanzo
Page Created 04 May, 2004
Last Updated 04 May, 2004

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