DSAC

PBY-5 CATALINA 1 FLYING BOAT A24-1

Dive Information

  • MAX DEPTH 5 METRES
  • SUNK 30/8/45
  • LENGTH 19.4 M
  • wingspan 31.7 METRES
  • WEIGHT 9485 KG EMPTY

GENERAL INFO

One of several Catalina flying boats wrecked in the harbour.

Crashed during take off August 30 1945 pilot wing commander Keith Bolitho. After the crash the aircraft was towed to a mud bank in east arm to allow salvage, Catalina A24-1 is wrecked in the mangroves in east arm, the site once intact has been reduced by the time and forces of tide and nature to a small section of the nose a couple of pieces of wing and the 2 engines still remain onsite and are visible at low tide, some parts were recovered to help with a Catalina restoration/display at RAAF Amberley Air base

See Pacific wrecks for details and photos