PBY Training Aid ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7818

For many years, the Survival Training School at NAS Pensacola featured a PBY Catalina hull that formed the back wall of the building. It dated to World War II when an accident rendered it unflyable and the decision was made to place it on display.

p51 · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2022 9:34 pm

That was there into the late 80s, I saw it once, I think in 1990. I walked into that building and saw it all set up. The public back then could walk in as it was more of a museum than anything else. The interior skin was removed and you could see everything inside it. I don't recall looking around back of the building to see what it looked like from the outside but the wall clearly went down it's centerline.
As I understand it, it was moved to the museum there and is on display. At least that's what someone told me at the the museum the last time I saw there, in 2015. It was sitting close to the 'USS Cabot' flight deck mockup.

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7818

More details in the link.

https://www.history.navy.mil/content/hi ... ories.html

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2022 11:07 pm

Major cool! Note the beaching gear; can't be many of those left (the four or five PBYs blown up for Tora! Tora! Tora! had them fitted).

history.navy.mil wrote:

One such teaching aid was already in place in the form of an SO3C Seagull aircraft positioned in a nosed-over crash position

Aw man, wish that had been saved - as far as I know it's an extinct type. Wonder when they removed it?

ffuries · **Posted:** Thu Feb 10, 2022 1:43 am

We use to teach Water Survival Refresher Training out of Pensacola NAS in the late 90s. Would have been cool if it was still around then.

Here's a shot of me teaching (Pensacola Water Surivival Building) Over Water Hanging Harness Training with AEFPS (Aircrew Eye Respiratory Protection System) Equipment. Basically over water bailout training with aircrew chemical warfare equipment on. I'm the instructor on the left side.

Steve Nelson · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 2022 12:05 am

Here's a shot I took of it in 2013. There's a complete PBY suspended above..also a rare -5 pure flying boat model. It was exactly the same on my most recent visit three years ago. The cutaway is almost certainly the most stock WWII example of a PBY interior still in existence.

SN

Pogmusic · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2022 8:55 am

I remember when I was in elementary school in 1967 taking a field trip to PNAS. One of the areas we tourd was the Survival Training. We got to crawl all through that PBY.

Marauderman26 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 08, 2011 8:05 am **Posts:** 167

The Building/Museum was still there in 1985 when I went though Aircrew and RSS training. I've told many people about how unique the display was and no one seemed to remember. Always wished Id taken a picture, now I have proof.
I was so disappointed watching the old original hangers come down to make room for McDonalds. I also remember hearing many students remark "what's with all the boat ramps" and responding "do you know where your are?"

Would love to have the beaching gear!
Does anyone know what the plan is for the PBY-5a still stored outside? The -5 belongs to the NASM, perhaps they may get swapped one day.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2022 2:07 pm

Marauderman26 wrote:

The Building/Museum was still there in 1985 when I went though Aircrew and RSS training. I've told many people about how unique the display was and no one seemed to remember. Always wished Id taken a picture, now I have proof.
I was so disappointed watching the old original hangers come down to make room for McDonalds. I also remember hearing many students remark "what's with all the boat ramps" and responding "do you know where your are?"

Would love to have the beaching gear!
Does anyone know what the plan is for the PBY-5a still stored outside? The -5 belongs to the NASM, perhaps they may get swapped one day.

Probably to languish with all the other aircraft until (hopefully) they build some additional hangars or at least some weather / sun awnings. Does anyone know what the story is with the NMNA restoration shop? Is it still pretty much dormant with only like two guys working there? Hope that issue gets resolved eventually.

Pogo · **Posted:** Mon Feb 14, 2022 8:51 pm

That cutaway PBY fuse has always fascinated me to no end, and I've always looked upon it as one of the coolest museum exhibits I've ever seen.

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