Mission Impossible: WWII Catalina Rescue from Loch Ness 

My wife and I both flew these aircraft on Firebombing missions in Canada in the early1980s. We worked for the government of Saskatchewan and flew this one and two others they operated. After 7 years on Canso we acquired CL 215s, CL215Ts and then Convair 580 s. Another of her sisterships is based at Victoria Airport in British Columbian and is restored as a private airplane. We had many adventures in these aircraft.

Thank you for saving this beauty and putting all that work into her. My grandfather flew these during the war and loved every second of it! That is all he used to talk about! The love and care you all put into the Catalinas repair is clear and truly unbelievable! I am glad, that there is still folks out there looking out for the aircraft, that laid the foundation for what we have today! We should never forget the past!

Really is grand to see these old war birds still flying.

What a thoroughly delightful documentary about these men and this historic, magisterial plane. I love watching icons of dedication do their craft on this aircraft.

What an amazing aircraft. The Vulcan, the Fokker Dr.I, the SR-71, so many beautiful planes over more than a century, but for my money nothing touches the Catalina. Her elegant, almost art-deco lines, the distinctive blisters, the albatross-like wings, and of course her incredible endurance put her in a class all her own. May Catalinas fly forever.

Joy. Bliss. Magnificent. That goes for the crew too. What a Sterling group.

What a beautiful bird! So, glad she made it home safely! Thank you to all that helped make this happen!!

I am a pilot and have been around warbirds most of my life. I was fascinated by how you can make a 43-minute video about changing an R-1830 engine away from home. The heroic applause over the successful engine test and dramatic music during the routine take-off of an aircraft with two perfectly running engines was a bonus.

I met my first Catalina in 1958. She was moored north of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The first time I saw her I fell in love. Aesthetically she was beautiful. Swooping through the world like a graceful swan graceful landing and taking off. I was 15 years old at the time and she helped turn my eyes to serving in the air force.

Glad to see that Miss Pick Up got home safely. ;-) The Catalina is special to me as a now deceased mate of mine Bill, flew as an airframe rigger/air gunner in one for the RAAF, flying out of Northern Australia, up into the Pacific Islands and sometimes as far as the coast of China to drop sea mines. Those particular missions were 27 hours long, something which used to shock RAAF Bomber Command boys used to missions of 7 or 8 hours duration. Miss you Bill. Mark from Melbourne Australia

Saw her yesterday at cosford airshow. Beautiful aircraft. Well done to her dedicated team in saving her from potential disaster.

I have the pleasure of doing quite a lot of flying in these as well as the Grumman "Goose" when living and working in South East Alaska in the late 60's early 70's. Alaska Airlines as well as many privateers flew both as I recall

Always loved the Catalinas. Thank you for saving her. I was stationed on NAS Whidbey Island, Washington, a former WW2 PBY seaplane base. My job as a Photographer's Mate was to transfer old 16mm films to videotape. Got to watch them operate. How I wish I had copies of the videos. Such a compelling video. Enjoyed the hoisting segments as I'm now a newbie crane operator.

I miss seeing this cat when driving to go see my grandparents in Nanaimo (it was stored for a while at the airport along the way) but I am happy to see it flying again and see other people enjoying this beautiful craft.

Glad to say it's had a good season of flying this year. I live only a few miles from Duxford and sometimes hear it, along with the B-17 and numerous WWII fighters.

My father was a flight engineer on RAF Catalinas through most of the war. He was stationed in Mombasa, Kenya, East Africa. He frequently recounted his living experiences there, and details about the aircraft, but never a word about the missions they undertook.

In January 2000, as a boat hauling trucker, my first load of the new millennium was a fuselage of a Catalina salvaged from a field in Eastern Washington. I took her from Seattle to Vancouver BC where she was loaded on a freighter for New Zealand. We made a pit stop at a Canadian airfield where the frames for the bubbles were drilled out, rivet by rivet.

Great vid, explained well, and kudos to all who helped get the Pby back home to Duxford, shes a rare plane, so it was a MUST to get this job done

Great story! Great story! . . from a U.S. Vet. 🇺🇲

A plane I have always loved with a passion. I had the great pleasure of diving on a near intact wreck of one up near Largs in Scotland more years ago than I can remember! Love it!!!

One of my favorite all-purpose WW2 planes. Its a shame they don't make this anymore.

I've been to Holy Loch; the submarine I was assigned to needed some repairs. The weather is indeed unpredictable! We experienced all Four Seasons, in 24 Hours! (it was March when we moored,)... We got Rain (Spring), We got sun and 70 degree's F (Summer), we got rain/snow and 33 degree's F (Fall), Then... we got full on Snow/Ice, high winds (Hello Winter)! I find it interesting that the Right Engine is Critical. Usually #1 engine is most critical (Left Engine); but, it's the way the aircraft was Engineered. I'm glad it's back in Duxford!

Like so many others on this forum, I had a grandfather who flew seventy-seven fighter director/ submarine hunter-killer missions in PBY's off Guadalcanal during the war. Seeing what these men did to save this plane warms my heart.

Keep this heritage flying for our future generations! Well done everyone!

Thank you to all who got her to safety.

Wow! That magnificent sound from 38:05 to 38:30 brings tears to my eyes. What a beautiful aircraft.

The prettiest sea plane ever made hands down...

My dad was a "flight engineer" on a PBY during WWII in Pensacola Fl. He was stationed in Pensacola as an airplane mechanic. His Cmdr. needed "flight engineers" to sit in the thin space between the wings to monitor the engine gages. Since my dad put the new engines on to the new airframes during the end of the war, his commander assigned him the task of "flight engineer". His duties were to make sure none of the engine instruments went out of the normal regions. I remember as a little boy holding my dad's WWII hand held microphone as well as his leather headset, you know the kind they used in the TV show "Twelve O'Clock High". I would pay a bundle today if I still had his equipment. His commandar would go sub-hunting along the Florida gulf to make sure there were no German U-boats in the area. Whether they were really "sub-hunting" or just practicing, I'm not sure but I can say that my dad was a "flight engineer" on a PBY. Miss you Dad very much.

Late Fall 1989 Paul Wilson flew a Grumman F7F Tigercat across the USA after engine and airframe prep for ferry flight to the UK. Tigercat had been air tanker, #43 at Sis-Q Flying Service in Santa Rosa, CA. Remember the day the 'cat flew for the first time after having the tanker mods removed. Smokey, hazy day in Sonoma County after all the fires in the area. Saw the 'cat take off and into the haze. Think I saw Miss Pickup in her earlier green and yellow paint scheme at the Santa Rosa Airport a bunch of years later at the same airport making its way across the US. In 1991-1993 I was one of the pilots and a crew member of a PBY-5A that got based in Santa Rosa. N9521C. Seems like the right engine was always the one with problems. Of course, shotty engine rebuilds attributed to the engines being swapped out. Corrosion an issue with carburetors. Spent many an hour standing the maintenance platforms that hook into the leading edge of the wing and side of engine cowl. Originally designed for use on the straight or non amphibious Catalinas. Couldn't imagine standing on those with plane in the ocean doing repairs. Really enjoyed seeing this video. Thanks for posting.

Just truly wonderful to see her being looked after and cared for.. Beautiful Keep up the good work gentlemen

Im glad the plane was safe. I actually had a tour of the plane at her home in Duxford back in 2015. An airshow I will never Forget

Great story, great plane, the perfect sea plane ... love it. Wish I'd been a part of this story. Catalina's and Scotland have a close relationship with squadrons based here during the war.

Was lucky to see this bird and meet her crew some years back at an air show. Remember talking to one of the pilots who was a young fella that was also a bush pilot, very cool!

Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful... No other words can describe the joy of the rescue.. Brilliantly presented... Full credit to all who helped.. Simon a brit 🇬🇧 in Spain 🇪🇸

My father was Flight Engineer on a PBY in North Africa during WWII. They did air-sea rescue for downed bombers in the med returning after a bombing run over Europe. I only wish he could have seen this video.

ITS AN ICON. I LOVE THE OLD AIRCRAFT .

My Father in Law (RIP) was on maintenance crew (Coastal Command) on Sunderland’s and Catalina’s up in Scotland , he had some great stories bless him

My Mother built PBY'S at the SanDiego plant during WWII building the tail sections along with my great uncles that built the engine cowls.

Thankyou. A superb documentary, was it not a Scottish RAF pilot that earned a VC in one of these superb PBY machines In a combat with a U boat? Really glad she is still a flyer, one of my favourite US aircraft.

Another wonderful program!

Excellent recovery, well done 👍👍👍

Great job repairing a great plane, and under extenuating circumstances, saying the least. From a former AE-3 (USN), who's first training assignment (NAS North Island, San Diego, CA, 1966) was cleaning the bilges of a Martin P-5 seaplane. By '67, the last of these gull winged birds were being retired from active military service (Oak Island, WA State, anyway), along with most of their still active seaplane tenders based there -- all replaced for ASW duty by land-based P-2V Neptunes (then flying out of NAS Whidbey Island a few miles further north.) Thank you.

I sat in the copilots seat of “Princess of the Stars” it is very spacious despite the photos. At least 30 people can fit in this flying house alone, albeit most without seatbelts!!!

Great job everyone, awesome team work.👍👏👏

The Catalina has always been my favourite old time plane. Not classically beautiful but to me it's stunning.

Awesome I love these planes.

One of my favorite Aircraft , always liked the one seen in the Film Steel Yard Blues , they should salvage that one on the Beach , great vid on a great Plane..

One of my favorite planes since I was a kid. I would love to fly one.

Wonderful video!

Terrific documentary a big well done to the mechanics and crew keeping this awesome plane alive.

I’m sure this was the bird i walked around at Edinburgh Airport maybe 3 or 4 years ago.. was awe struck! Beautiful machine.

Very well done thank you for sharing

0:17 OMG! 4 rocket booster assisted take off! Crazy! =D One of my favourite aircraft. I would have kept the nose window port intact.

The Catalina along with Sunderland flying boats, were in service with an Australian Airline based in a facility at Rose Bay in Sydney up until the late 60's. I used to watch the Sunderlands come and go on Sydney Harbour. When the service was finally shut down, I believe the Catalina was still laid up in the main Hanger, and scrapped just before the Facility was finally demolished. I took photos of the Main hanger as it was being demolished and still have them today.....I found it sad.

I seem to remember seeing one of these at the Nanaimo airport years ago, you could see it from the highway as you drove by.

A lot of waffle & fill in this documentary. What exactly was the problem with the engine?

I love the Catalina. Such a beautiful plane.

A story very well told! Fabulous!

I had the opportunity to meet the team @ Ursel Avia yesterday. Very nice people. Driven by a beautiful passion.

Remember the Indianapolis that was sunk by the Japanese? A PBY-5A Catalina plane flown by Adrian Marks landed on the ocean despite orders not to do so. He rescued 56 crewmen from the Indianapolis by tying them to the wings and putting some inside. They waited for ships to arrive to rescue them and then they had to torpedo the plane because it wasn’t air worthy anymore. There’s a restored Catalina on display at an Air Force base in Washington state.

Wonderful , 'escape from loch Ness' 👍

That was a great story of a great WW11 workhorse. I have a nice RC model of it. It has flown, I acquired it from an estate sale, but I haven't flown it yet.

Low, slow , long range ,built like a brick. Ideal for search and rescue.

Well done gents , I do love the Catalina she's one the ultimate useful aircraft from ww2 post war and it's a shame seeing so many wrecks of her brotheren about . But lovely old job gents n lady's

Beautiful Beautiful Aircraft.

Glad to see it fixed and flying. An interesting old piece of aviation. I have seen the one at Lake Boga Victoria on a plynth and they fairly recently built a hangar over it. Though there is Goonie Birds working daily in ice to jungles even now earning money. And generally live out in the weather.

flew on ZK-DAK in New Zealand a few years ago, well worth the small cost. It will be flying for many years many yet. Lots of spares on hand

Fantastic effort! By no means a sure thing until it’s back on the ground back home.

30 years ago a friend and I were offered an air worthy one of these for £10k. It was in Florida and had both original engines changed to newer types. We didn't buy it because it would have needed a lot of work. I could kick myself now. Beautiful old bird

Great video!

Honestly, the "CAT" is one of my all-time favorites out of all warbirds.

Great story! I had the pleasure of watching one of these beasts taking off almost every day of the summer around 1960 in Schefferville, Quebec. They would fly fuel oil to a lake near a Mid-Canada Line radar site, where one of Dominion Helicopter's H-21's would rendezvous and sling in the oil, pumped into drums, to the radar site.

Saw her flying this year 2021 off a short grass runway such a great sight and sound I think there’s a short clip at the end of my Victory show video.

Beautiful video well done.

I saw this plane on air show in Pardubice Czech Republic back in 2018 or So And IT was beatiful seeing IT fly

What a beauty 😍

The Catalina PBY. does not get the credit it deserves for its role in WWII. Hundreds of downed pilots were saved by the PBY. The IntelIgence gathering of the PBY was instrumental in finding Japanese fleets. The pilots and crew are the unsung heros of WWII. God bless them all.

Hi, I'm formerly Etran Marine transport llp.i now live in Canada NS . I had the privilege to transport the catalina that sadly the mayor of Southampton died on . This was transport from HMS Dadileus nr Portsmouth to West ways airfield Dublin Ireland . The owner I'm hoping is still Mr Christy Keen , ex chief inspector for Dublin Garda. A beautiful and iconic aircraft. Glad to see one still flying . Well done

Used to see these doing touch n go's at Sand Point (Naval Air Station Seattle) in the 60s & 70s. They had a search and rescue squadron.

36:42 It's the water leaking through the top of the canopy that says everything about the Catalina. 😎

remember been stuck in middle of loch tay stoned out of my tree pitch black in the middle of a storm in my little fishing boat spinning in circles because i got my fishing line stuck round propellor, wasnt a boat or light in sight...got back to marina and they said boats werent allowed out today because of the crazy storm lol 500ft deep not somat you wanna mess with

The young men who flew these aircraft were only in their early 20s through the Second World War they saved hundreds of downed flyers and sailors heroes every one of them

I saw that beauty at Duxford just two years ago.

beautiful

Great job everybody! Flew with her in 🇨🇭👍😘

Excellent stuff bro

Great video.

Always wanted one of these to own and fly.

That's a beautiful ending to a tragic beginning.

Thanks!

It was a nice documentary but a little over the top. I have changed the engine over the water on the Canso (catalina) and if they had the right rigging for the aircraft they could have taken the prop off with the A frame made for it, to sit on the wing, and then the A frame for the engine to lower the engine . We had to fly an new engine in on an other Canso. and because the back door ( Bubble was replaced with a cargo door) was not big enough, we had to strip all the cylinder off the new engine, except for the two master Cylinders, Putting the engine in the other Canso was a lot easier on land, then it was too remove over the water onto a barge. and taken it to shore too rebuild the new engine. We then floated engine back too the plane and used its engine air frame too hoist up the engine. The aircraft also had what we used to call catwalks, that you hung onto the wing and then could also at the far end hang on the engine , and you could stand beside the engine while you floated over the water and do you thing to get it back on the aircraft, in reverse order. I worked on three Canso's in the late 60's and early 70's. Their is also a documentary on another Canso CF-JCV which I had worked on many years ago.

Good looking plane.

Going to get my multi engine sea rating in a few months. Can’t wait!

That dang plane is so ugly it’s beautiful. The PBY was a godsend for patrol and rescue for the Americans during WW 2. What a grand old lady!

in 1968 i was 8 there was one of these planes on the island of st michael azores i used to see it take off

thats a great end to the story, as an american i say fantastic work protecting this priceless artifact so she may fly another day. just fantastic, too many times these stories have a bad ending..... see kee bird. this PBY will survive

I'd love to be part of this team. A cat has always been one of my fav WWII aircraft.

Thank you very much for highlighting and saving the pby my father was ground crew and aircrew both in Korea and he appreciated it as do the rest hence the reason we ended up flying float planes I believe

Anyone else have goosebumps during that takeoff?

I have a picture from 1959 of me at five years old, and my little brother and my two older sisters standing in front of a Catalina PBY in Casa Grande Arizona. There was five or six of them as I recall. Some guy had bought them war surplus. A couple of days later a tornado touched down and destroyed every one of them. I ask my dad what had happened to the airplanes, and he said they are all pots and pans now. Then my dad recited, "You'll never get to heaven in a PBY cause the god damned things don't fly that high" Miss you Dad.