Catalina Rb-l

[cristo]

A photo of RB-L landing on the Cairns inlet c 1944 from the Cairns Historical Society collection. RB-L
was A24-59 a PBY 5 allocated to 20 Squadron August 1943 until 17/5/44 when it went to 1 FBMU for overhaul. It then went to 43 Squadron.
A24-81 a PBY 5A then became RB-L from June 1944. 20 Squadron then moved from Cairns to Darwin in September 1944 so with out a specific date this could be either of them.


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[cristo]

Looking through the ADF Serials Catalina albums I found this photo captioned 20 Squadron RB-L Catalina A24-81 landing Darwin 1944.
Comparing the two photos it is obvious this is a cropped version of the Cairns Historical Society photo.
In the Cairns version you can see the mountains behind Cairns inlet.
There are no mountains around Darwin Harbor so it is undoubtable Cairns. However this still doesn't tell us if it is A24-59 or 81.
Apart from the wheels which unfortunately we can not see is there any other differences between a PBY 5 and 5A ?

This post has been edited by cristo on Aug 23 2021, 04:17 PM

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[cristo]

G'day Shep
Our original print has been closely examined and it is definably L

Cheers Ray

This post has been edited by cristo on Aug 24 2021, 04:53 PM

[Warhawk]

Okay you mob...You picked a date....and we have A24-81 dated 03/06/1944 when it is advised that it has become RB-L

Best
Gordy B)

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[Warhawk]

If the pic is earlier.......A24-59 was RB-L from October - November 43 records through to May 1944 :blink:

As you say hard to tell

But did both have Yagi Aerials on wings????

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[Warhawk]

AHSO..try this on for eyeballing ..I think I have the answer.....Code and letter locations per Roundel. If there is a God route that is

A24-59 had RB-L as block set RB-L behind starboard Roundel in this pic. (Middle Aircraft)

Question,..was this consistent placement per Period for 20Sqn RAAF Cats March 1943 to May 1944????

"If so facto",..then the issue is still unresolved per the initial pic being A24-59, "if" that is the case. So I'm out.

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[Warhawk]

Of course I lost my Horizon....thought I was on a winner ..42 Sqn had them split on repositioned roundels in late 1944......so its a final "Bugger" from me........since same 20 Sqn serial series (A24-8*s) had them also in Block Form behind the Roundel .........



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