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Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina

Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
The PBY was the most successful flying boat ever designed, and it was in continuous production for over ten years. It was built in larger numbers than all other flying boats combined, and the majority of these planes were produced in San Diego. The Thomas W. Kendall family donated this PBY-5A to the museum in January 1986. In May 1986, the PBY was flown from Van Nuys, California to the Naval Air Rework Facility at North Island where volunteer craftsmen completed the firs phase of restoration. When this work was completed in November 1986, the plane was transported by barge across San Diego Bay to the Convair facilities on harbor drive where the second phase of the PBY's restoration was accomplished by volunteers from the Convair Alumni Association. Early on the morning of August 8, 1988 the PBY was towed through the San Diego streets to Balboa Park. It was then lifted by crane over the museum building to this location, and on the evening of August 11, 1988 over 1800 museum members and guests were present at dedication ceremonies which honored this historic aircraft and the Thomas W. Kendall family who donated it to the museum.

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