Leonard Birchall's Catalina AJ-155

[Tim G]

Leonard Birchall, of 413 squadron, was the pilot who was flying the Catalina wich spotted the Japanese fleet headed for Ceylon on april 4, 1942. Would anyone have any idea what this plane may have looked like? This is for a modeling project.

[shooshoobaby]

Tim -
It was a Catalina MK.I
Code AJ155/A
Mike

[Leendert]

Tim,

RCAF Catalina color scheme in Ceylon apparently was a dark tone. See e.g. http://www.junobeach.org/e/4/can-tac-air-coa-e.htm#null

(You can open the the picture of the Cat to get a full view).

There are also pictures of Leonard Birchall sitting in his cockpit of the Catalina he spotted the Japanese fleet in, and this a/c also has a dark scheme.
See e.g. here: http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/sit..._e.asp?id=1511

Regards,

Leendert

[Graham Boak]

The scheme will have been, and appears to be in the photograph, the standard Temperate Sea Scheme of Extra Dark Sea Grey and Dark Slate Grey over Sky.

The full code was QL.A. There is a photo of QL.F in Coastal Support and Special Squadrons of the Royal Air Force, by John D.R.Rawlings, published by Janes 1982, ISBN 0 7106 0187 5. The codes are carried on the fuselage under the pylon, the Q and L each side of the first wing strut, the F aft of the second wing strut.

[Tim G]

Thank you all, very much appreciated