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NZDF-SERIALS
Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History

RNZAF Consolidated PBY-5 & PB2B-1 Catalina
NZ4001 to NZ4056

     
 

RNZAF Catalina NZ4025 
3OTU GF-C 
Fiji 1944. 
Photographer unknown via Nelson Little.

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Serial c/n Type.    R.A.F. U.S.N. Aircraft history
NZ4001 1194 PBY-5   08280 Arrived Fiji 04 April 1943. Code XX-A.
Damaged Lauthala Bay 09 August 1945.
Written off 22 September 1945.
NZ4002 1334 PBY-5 JX232   Arrived Fiji 12 May 1943. Code XX-B.
Crashed at Lauthala Bay while doing night circuit practice on 23 September 1943.
The aircraft took off at 2050 hours with the elevator trim tabs wrongly set and crashed into the water from a height of about 200 feet. It burst into flames on impact and the 4 crew were killed.
Written off books at Fiji on 08 November 1943 as reduced to spares.
NZ4003 1336 PBY-5 JX234   Arrived Fiji 15 May 1943. Code XX-C.
Water looped and struck Liberty Ship in Segond Channel 31 October 1943.
Written off.
NZ4004 1297 PBY-5   08373 Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. Code XX-D.
Became INST120 at Hobsonville in 1946. Declared surplus in 1951.
Broken up and scrapped at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4005 1335 PBY-5 JX233.   Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. Code XX-E.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4006 1338 PBY-5 JX236.   Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943.
Missing on Suva-Auckland trip on 04 June 1943.
The aircraft left Lauthala Bay about 0430 and was not heard from again. Some wreckage was found in the following few days on the islands south of Lathala bay.
Seven crew and eight passengers all listed as missing presumed dead.
Worst RNZAF air crash to that date. Aircraft written off books at Suva.
NZ4007 1339 PBY-5 JX237.   Arrived Fiji 21 May 1943. Code XX-F.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4008 1332 PBY-5 JX230.   Arrived Fiji 01 June 1943. Code XX-J.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4009 1333 PBY-5 JX231.   Arrived Fiji 12 June 1943. Code XX-K.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4010 1251 PBY-5 JX228.   Arrived Fiji 16 June 1943. Code XX-L.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4011 1337 PBY-5 JX235   Arrived Fiji 16 June 1943. Code XX-M.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4012 1384 PBY-5   08450 Arrived Fiji 20 June 1943. Code XX-N.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4013 1402 PBY-5   08468 Arrived Fiji 06 July 1943. Code XX-O.
Water looped on take off after a dumbo rescue mission in Segond Channel on 11 October 1944.
Was taken under tow by a US ship but the damaged starboard float collapsed and the aircraft capsized and sank in deep water.
NZ4014 1398 PBY-5   08464 Arrived Fiji 11 July 1943. Code XX-P.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4015 1387 PBY-5   08453 Arrived Fiji 12 July 1943. Code XX-R.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4016 1400 PBY-5   08466 Arrived Fiji 13 July 1943. Code XX-S.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4017 1401 PBY-5   08467 Arrived Fiji 13 July 1943. Code XX-T.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
The aircraft currently flying in NZ painted as NZ4017 is PBV-1A Canso ZK-PBY (construction number CV-357) of the Catalina Group, Papakura.
NZ4018 1432 PBY-5   08488 Arrived Fiji 20 October 1943. Code XX-U.
Declared surplus to requirements 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4019 1372 PBY-5   08438 Arrived Fiji 21 October 1943. Code XX-V.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4020 1369 PBY-5   08435 Arrived Fiji 21 October 1943. Code XX-W.
Stalled on landing at Hobsonville on 26 May 1945 and towed to mooring by crash boat.
Damage resulted in the aircraft being written off charge on 18 June 1945.
NZ4021 1431 PBY-5   08487 Arrived Fiji 27 October 1943. Code XX-X.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4022 1470 PBY-5   08516 Arrived Fiji 28 October 1943. Code XX-Y.
Spun into sea 10 miles south of Mbenga, Fiji on 27 January 1945 while operating with No.6 Squadron.
During a post maintenance test flight the aircraft was deliberately stalled at 5500 feet but entered an uncontrollable spin and dived into the sea near Beqa Island at 1058 hours.
4 crew and 8 passengers killed but 2 crew 4 passengers managed to get clear of the wreckage before it sank and survived.
Aircraft written off books at Suva.
NZ4023 28086 PB2B-1   72997 Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-A.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4024 28088 PB2B-1   72999 Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-B.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4025 28089 PB2B-1   73000 Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-C.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.

RNZAF Catalina NZ4025 
3OTU GF-C 
Fiji 1944. 
Photographer unknown via Nelson Little.

NZ4026 28102 PB2B-1   73013 Arrived Fiji 04 April 1944. Code GF-D.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4027 28087 PB2B-1   72998 Arrived Fiji 11 May 1944. Code GF-E.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4028 28104 PB2B-1   73015 Arrived Fiji 11 May 1944. Code GF-F.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4029 28119 PB2B-1   73030 Arrived Fiji 12 May 1944. Code PA-A.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4030 28105 PB2B-1   73016 Arrived Fiji 18 May 1944. Code PA-B.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4031 28120 PB2B-1   73031 Arrived Fiji 11 June 1944. Code PA-C.
Stalled on take off from Funafuti Lagoon at 0620 hours on 13 April 1945 while being operated by No. 5 Squadron.
The aircraft then sank in 15 fathoms of water.
3 crew killed but 7 survived.
NZ4032 28121 PB2B-1   73032 Arrived Fiji 10 June 1944. Code PA-D.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4033 28132 PB2B-1   73043 Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-E.
Damaged when waterlooped on landing at Mechanics Bay on 14 Feb 1946.
Broken up 1949.
NZ4034 28133 PB2B-1   73044 Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-F.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4035 28134 PB2B-1   73045 Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-G.
Loaned to TEAL for crew training in 1947 and registered ZK-AMI.
Returned to RNZAF and declared surplus to requirements.
Broken up in 1948.
NZ4036 28135 PB2B-1   73046 Arrived Fiji 15 June 1944. Code PA-H.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4037 28136 PB2B-1   73047 Arrived Fiji 22 June 1944. Codes PA-I, KN-B.
Withdrawn from service with No.5 Squadron Lauthala Bay October 1953 and flown to Hobsonville for storage.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4038 28137 PB2B-1   73048 Arrived Fiji 25 June 1944. Code PA-J.
Loaned to TEAL in 1948 to survey Coral Route and registered as ZK-AMP.
Returned to RNZAF in 1951 and declared surplus to requirements.
Sold for scrap and broken up May 1952.
NZ4039 28144 PB2B-1   73055 Arrived Fiji 28 June 1944. Code PA-K.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4040 28146 PB2B-1   73057 Arrived Fiji 28 June 1944. Code PA-L.
No record of disposal.
Thought to have been reduced to spares at Hobsonville in 1949.
NZ4041 28147 PB2B-1   73058 Arrived Fiji 28 June 1944. Code PA-M.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4042 28118 PB2B-1   73029 Arrived Fiji 07 July 1944. Code PA-N.
With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron Hobsonville 25 June 1953-06 April 1954.
Withdrawn from service 06 April 1954 and stored Hobsonville.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4043 28103 PB2B-1   73014 Arrived Fiji 29 July 1944. Code PA-O.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4044 28148 PB2B-1   73059 Arrived Fiji 01 August 1944. Code KN-C.
With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron, Hobsonville 06 February 1952-28 September 1953.
Withdrawn from service October 1953 and stored at Hobsonville.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.
NZ4045 28149 PB2B-1   73060 Arrived Fiji 02 August 1944. Code GF-H.
Used for ground training of engineers at Hobsonville from 1949.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.

Consolidated Catalina 
NZ4045
RNZAF Photo

NZ4046 28145 PB2B-1   73056 Arrived Fiji 05 August 1944. Code KN-A.
Force landed after engine failure 17 miles off Suva on 08 October 1952.
Badly damaged in landing after float was ripped off and sank after crew had abandoned aircraft.

Highlight for Album: Catalina NZ4046

NZ4047 60956 PB2B-1   73095 Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. Codes PA-C, KN-B.
Struck reef while taxiing at Vila on 08 August 1950.
Repaired on site and flown back to Lauthala Bay on 29 August 1950.
Transferred to Hobsonville for major repairs on 23 November 1950.
Repair work never carried out and aircraft was declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and sold for scrap.
In 1950 NZ4047 was the highest houred RNZAF Catalina.

Highlight for Album: Catalina NZ4047

NZ4048 60959 PB2B-1   73098 Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. To No.5 Squadron with code KN-C.
Stalled and crashed on takeoff from Satapuala on 12 December 1950 killing 7 crew and injuring 1.

RNZAF Catalina NZ4048 
5 Squadron KN-C 
Hobsonville NZ circa 1949. 
Photographer unknown via Nelson Little.

NZ4049 60974 PB2B-1   73113 Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. Code KN-D.
With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron Hobsonville 30 November 1953-06 April 1954.
Provided SAR coverage for the Royal Tour by Queen Elizabeth II in January 1954.
Withdrawn from service 06 April 1954 and stored Hobsonville.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.

Highlight for Album: Catalina NZ4049

NZ4050 60957 PB2B-1   73096 Arrived Fiji 15 September 1944. Code KN-G.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.

Highlight for Album: Catalina NZ4050

NZ4051 60958 PB2B-1   73097 Arrived Fiji 04 October 1944. Code KN-H.
Damaged 07 February 1950 during take off from Evans Bay, Wellington when seawater flooded aircraft.
Lifted out of water and taken to Shelley Bay for disposal.
Fuselage and engines sold for scrap and aircraft struck off charge on 24 June 1950.

Highlight for Album: Catalina NZ4051

NZ4052 60976 PB2B-1   73115 Arrived Fiji 09 October 1944.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1951 and broken up at Hobsonville in 1952.
NZ4053 60977 PB2B-1   73116 Arrived Fiji 09 October 1944. Code KN-K.
Withdrawn from service with No.5 Squadron Lauthala Bay October 1953 and flown to Hobsonville for storage.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold for scrap to NZ Metal Smelters for 175 pounds.

Highlight for Album: Catalina NZ4053

NZ4054 60975 PB2B-1   73114 Arrived Fiji 11 October 1944.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1954 and sold for scrap.
NZ4055 61108 PB2B-1   44202 Arrived Fiji 27 November 1944. Code KN-L.
With No.6 Flying Boat Squadron Hobsonville 23 March 1953-02 April 1954.
Withdrawn from service April 1954 and stored Hobsonville.
Declared surplus to requirements in 1956 and sold to Mr. Jack Sellars for 250 pounds, who intended to convert it to a pleasure boat.
Towed to Whangateau where the wings were removed and then taken by road to Wellsford and parked on owners property. Purchased by scrap merchant in the late 1960s.
NZ4056 61109 PB2B-1   44203 Arrived Fiji 29 November 1944. Code KN-F.
Returned to Hobsonville from Lauthala Bay on 12 November 1952 for storage but was declared unfit for flying.
Struck off charge on 29 January 1953 and reduced to spares.

Highlight for Album: Catalina NZ4056

 
     

Catalina FP324
(© Tony McDonald Collection)

     

Author: Ivan Prince (Updated by Brendan Cowan)

Sources: "The Golden Age of New Zealand Flying Boats" by Paul Harrison with Brian Lockstone and Andy Anderson. NZ Wings 1987. AHSNZ Journal March 1985. "For Your Tomorrow" by Errol Martyn.

Emails: John Andrade, Zac Yates, Martin Edwards, Brendan Cowan, Tony McDonald, Nelson Little, David Legg, Gordon Birkett

Updated 17 December 2013

     

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