Greetings from Australia.
My name is Mitch McKay and I'm the author of
It's Not Hollywood But... which details the story of Bob Hope's landing in the Camden Haven River at Laurieton, Australia in August 1944. He had been flying to Sydney in the Catalina after entertaining troops in the South Pacific when it encountered mechanical problems.
Other entertainers on board were Jerry Colonna, Frances Langford, Tony Romano, Hope’s writer Barney Dean and Patty Thomas.
The book not only tells of my search for Patty, the last surviving member of that troupe of entertainers, but also the search for the crew and the aircraft.
A copy of my publication can be purchased from my website on
www.pmheritage.com.au.
The Catalina was Bu Aer 08032 but after the war it also had other identities such as NC49692, B-819 Air Asia and F-BDRN or TRAPAS.
The book shows the aircraft, which during the war went by the name
Spare Gear, destroyed in Indonesia - it's final mission, and includes an account from the son of the pilot who flew it on that fateful day.
Hope this help.
Regards
Mitch