A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

A friend sent me this picture of an aircraft part found by seadivers near the seaside in croatia.

It looks very much like a Catalina part (behind the big bubble window), don't you think ? your comments are welcome.

He precised that a marking was found: P285,

could this help trace the story of this machine ?

Thanks to all in advance

GC

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

Hello GC,
The only RAF Catalina would have been FP285.
Alex

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

Great Alex, this looks very much to be the good one.

I would like to know more about the background of this aircraft (crew names, date, reason of crash etc..) : What would you suggest for that ?

Thanks in advance

GC

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

Hello GC,
Please do not jump, it may only be a peice of scrap with a part number on it.
However, if it is from a Catalina then it may well be part of the aircraft's serial number.
If so then FP285 would be the only number that would fit.
FP 285 was a 259 Sqdn aircraft.
AB serials FA100-FZ999 has -
FP285 - 302FTU/202/302FTU/202/190/302/FTU/209/259 - SOC 25.7.46.
So it last service was it seems with 259 Squadron.
"Coastal Support & Special Squadrons of the RAF & Their Aircraft" has -
259 Squadron served in the Middle East and in late WW2 was based at - Aden,Mauritius, Pamanzi, Tulear and was disbanded at Dar-es- Salaam on 30th April 1945.
So your best chance is 259 Sqdn's ORB for 1945 .
All the best
Alex

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

Giles, what was the nature of the marking P285 found on the peice?

Was it a trace of paint on the skin as would be the case with an aircraft serial number?

or was it a metal stamp on a piece of metal, or a ink text stamp?

Cn a photo of the tet be provided?

Croatia has a long coast line, any better detail on where it was found.

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

If you look carefully at the original picture posted, I don't think that it necessarily is from a PBY Catalina. I don't think the rivet pattern around the supposed blister location actually matches the way the blisters were riveted.

There is a nice series of 176 photos here of a PBY walk around. Pictures of the blister appear on pages 9 and 10.

http://www.net-maquettes.com/picture...-5-a-catalina/


This period photo appears many places on the net.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikiped...ne1a34894v.jpg

I think a close study shows a different rivet pattern than on the recovered piece.

Do you have a link to an actual PBY photo that shows a good match?

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

Hello,
The link doesn't work for me Roland, yet again.
However if the picture in post 1 is viewed upside down the arc is under the serial Peter "P", so ?
Alex

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

Salut Gilles!

Nothing found on "Fleet Air Arm Aircraft, 1939-45" book, which record all losses from that Arm in WW2. Guess FAA (not my field of interest) did not flew Catalinas in WW2....

Yours
Adriano

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

It would appear that from another forum FP285 was SOC in another Theatre & yes Adriano, FAA did not fly Catalinas.

Re: A CATALINA CRASHED IN CROTIA ?
 

Good morning all, Salut Adriano!

Thanks for your feedbacks.

I shall try to know more more the person who asked me the qustion. In the meantime I share with you one other picture I have from the same part.

As soon as as I have more news Irevert to you.

Kind regards

GC