- Paperback: 96 pages
- Publisher: Osprey Publishing (Nov 28 2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 184176910X
- ISBN-13: 978-1841769103
- Product Dimensions: 18.5 x 0.7 x 24.6 cm
- Shipping Weight: 272 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,020,934 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
"Osprey has now published two books covering both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Units of the Atlantic War has 32 color plane drawings, Units of the Pacific War has 31 ... The combat history of the PBY Catalina in every theater of the war is more interesting than one would consider. The PBY books revealed information that I had not considered about the valuable contribution these planes made toward defeating Germany and Japan." -Michael Koznarsky, Historical Miniature Gamer (Issue 10)
"Besides providing a history of the development of seagoing aircraft, the author describes many of the combat actions in which the PBYs were involve, and the wealth of photos and color illustrations depict the unit markings and other features in fine detail."-WWII History Magazine (August/September 2008)
"Although several books have been written about WWII USN patrol aviation, none do full justice to the role played by USN patrol squadrons in the longest, most bitterly fought campaign of the war - the Battle of the Atlantic - [until now.]" -George Hulett, Warbirds International
"The author has compiled an excellent reference on these units as well as coast guard squadrons that operated from the North Atlantic bases after the Navy pulled out of those missions in 1943. There are quality period photos as well as a goodly number of fine profiles to get the creative juices flowing for modelers. In all, a superb book on a part of WWII that gets very little press. A book I can justifiably recommend to you." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (December 2007)
"Besides providing a history of the development of seagoing aircraft, the author describes many of the combat actions in which the PBYs were involve, and the wealth of photos and color illustrations depict the unit markings and other features in fine detail."-WWII History Magazine (August/September 2008)
"Although several books have been written about WWII USN patrol aviation, none do full justice to the role played by USN patrol squadrons in the longest, most bitterly fought campaign of the war - the Battle of the Atlantic - [until now.]" -George Hulett, Warbirds International
"The author has compiled an excellent reference on these units as well as coast guard squadrons that operated from the North Atlantic bases after the Navy pulled out of those missions in 1943. There are quality period photos as well as a goodly number of fine profiles to get the creative juices flowing for modelers. In all, a superb book on a part of WWII that gets very little press. A book I can justifiably recommend to you." -Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (December 2007)
Product Description
Several books have been written about US naval air patrol operations in World War II (1939-1945), but none do full justice to the role played by patrol squadrons of the US Navy in the longest, most bitterly fought campaign of the war, the Battle of the Atlantic. From the Arctic to the Equator, anti-submarine aircraft of the US Navy patrolled both sides of the stormy Atlantic alongside their Allied counterparts. They escorted merchant convoys through the submarine-infested waters, protecting the crucial lifeline from the United States to Great Britain and the Mediterranean that carried troops and supplies for the ultimate liberation of North Africa and Europe.
The PBY Catalina, in which most of these vital missions were flown, was the most successful flying boat ever designed. Built in greater numbers than any other, it served the maritime air forces of all principle Allied nations, as well as the four branches of the US military. Except for a handful of Martin PBM Mariners, the Catalina was the only long range patrol bomber in the US Navy's inventory when the USA entered World War II. Though considered obsolete in 1939, it served in significant numbers until war's end and for many years after. Its total contribution to victory can only be surmised and the number of ships and lives saved by the PBY's mere presence over convoys will never be known. However, US Navy PBYs sank 19 Axis submarines, all identified by the author from contemporary evidence. Photographs of the Catalina in service in the Atlantic are rare but the author has assembled over 80 through research in official archives and private collections.
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The PBY Catalina, in which most of these vital missions were flown, was the most successful flying boat ever designed. Built in greater numbers than any other, it served the maritime air forces of all principle Allied nations, as well as the four branches of the US military. Except for a handful of Martin PBM Mariners, the Catalina was the only long range patrol bomber in the US Navy's inventory when the USA entered World War II. Though considered obsolete in 1939, it served in significant numbers until war's end and for many years after. Its total contribution to victory can only be surmised and the number of ships and lives saved by the PBY's mere presence over convoys will never be known. However, US Navy PBYs sank 19 Axis submarines, all identified by the author from contemporary evidence. Photographs of the Catalina in service in the Atlantic are rare but the author has assembled over 80 through research in official archives and private collections.
Related Titles
PV Ventura/Harpoon Units of World War II (Combat)
Kriegsmarine U-boats 1939-45 (New Vanguard)
Sunderland Squadrons of World War II (Combat)
Inside This Book
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Obsolete When the War Started It Flew All Through It, Dec 1 2006
By John Matlock "Gunny" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Atlantic War (Paperback)
By the time the second world war started the Consoladated PBY was already obsolete. The Navy had already ordered its replacement the Martin PBM which was better in every mesurable way - speed, payload, range, etc. But the venerable PBY was ready, it was in production, and it worked. Over four thousand were produced, vs about 1200 PBMs.This book gives the history of the design of the PBY, and talks of its use, concentrating on the units that worked in the Atlantic where it did all of the tasks that you expect of a patrol bomber, escourting convoys, light cargo movement including people such as Eisenhower and his staff from England to Gibralter where he commanded the early stages of Torch, the invasion of North Africa.
It was also a PBY, a Catalina of the RAF that first spotted the Bismark (not to say the pacific fleet at Midway, but that was in the Pacific war).
The PBY was probably not the prettiest airplane with it's angular features and it's wing having to have support struts. But it had a workman's appearance when compared with the PBM, king of like the B-17 when compared to the B-24.
This book is well written, profusely illustrated and exhaustively researched.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
PBY actions in the Atlantic, Nov 30 2006
By Robert W. Bergstrom - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Atlantic War (Paperback)
Finally a well written and researched book on US PBY units in the Atlantic War. Ragnar manages to bring a concise and well documented description of what actions the US PBY's did before and after the start of WW II. I especially liked the attention to detail on individual plane serial numbers and and the VP squadrons. He covers all units and gives good highlites of the individual pilots and crewmen involved in that long and dangerous campaign. I cannot wait for further books from this PBY expert.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book., Jan 17 2008
By Black Cat "PBY" - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Atlantic War (Paperback)
Very pleasant reading, good background information even for someone new to reading about operating a PBY in wartime. Great pictures that clearly show the weather influences of the Atlantic ocean and the human side.The detailed study on the development of the PBY as an introduction helped to set the basis of how important this "old" aircraft was in the defeat of the 'modern' U-boat.
Pictures are clearly described in detail. All through the book, it tells about the struggle to overcome the dominance early in the war of the german U-boat and the slow change in numbers and tactics to help the convoys getting through unharmed.
I really like reading the Search and Rescue stories that showed the versatility of landing a PBY anywhere.
It exactly contains what the title says.
If you are looking for a book that descibes the PBY, see:
PBY Catalina - Walk Around No. 5; ISBN-10: 0897473574
PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat; ISBN-10: 0870215264
PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat
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