CATALINA 1944
Catalina landing at Matilda Bay during WWII
Description
PBY 5 Flying Boat
Construction
Aluminium
Size
14.4 ton length 19.5m wing 31.7m height 5.7m
Built
Consolidated Aircraft Corp. USA
Owner
US Navy Fleet Wing
Sunk
1944/04/04 or 1943/01/23
Location
4km South of Sea Bird
Latitude/Longitude
(-31.295268, 115.436484)
Sinking
En route from Matilda Bay in Perth – forced to land near Sea Bird during WWII, the Catalina dragged anchor and was wrecked on nearby reef. Few records and site not located.
Underwater
Though this particular aircraft belonged to the United States Navy Fleet Air Wing 10, an informal agreement between the US and Western Australia transfers control to this State. A recent declaration that all the World War II flying boats at Broome come under the protection of the Heritage of Western Australian Act 1990 is a pointer to the future management of this site when it is found.