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  OA-10 Catalina Serial Number 44-33954  
USAF
10th Rescue Squadron

Former Assignments
USAAF
RCAF

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Ted Spencer 1984

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Ted Spencer 2000

Aircraft History
Built by Canadian Vickers Limited in Montreal, Canada as the Model CL-1 a license built version of Consolidated Aircraft Corporation Model 28-5A. Constructor Number CV465. Delivered on a U.S. Navy (USN) as PBV-1A Catalina bureau number 67918. Assigned to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as OA-10A Catalina serial number 44-33954.

Wartime History
Assigned to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) then returned to the USAAF. On September 18, 1947 assigned to the United States Air Force (USAF) to the 10th Rescue Squadron (10th RS) operating from Elmendorf Air Force Base. No known nickname or nose art.

Mission History
On September 30, 1947 took off from Elmendorf Air Force Base on a flight and suffered an engine failure south of King Salmon. This OA-10 made an emergency landing at the edge of Dago Lake. Afterwards, the crew were rescued.

Wreckage
This Catalina was declared U.S. government surplus and purchased by the R. S. Richards family and was stripped for usable parts including both engines. The rest of the Catalina was abandoned. Until 1984, this Catalina remained in situ at Dago Lake.

Salvage
A recovery project conducted by the National Guard with volunteers from the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum salvaged the wreck in 1984 & 1987, lifting it from the crash site by helicopter. Then, transported to Anchorage and Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum.

Display
Displayed at the Alaska Aviation Heritage Museum on landing gear. Registered with the FAA as N44BY.

References
Note, some references incorrectly list this aircraft as PBY-5A Catalina
Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBV-1A Catalina 67918
"67918 (MSN CV465) to USAAF as 44-33954"
USAF Serial Number Search Results - OA-10A Catalina 44-33954
"33954 (MSN CV465) ex US Navy 67918. Now as Alaskan Historical Museum, Anchorage, AK as N44BY. Aircraft had been recovered from Dago Lake, whether abandoned there or sunk is not certain."
Thanks to Ted Spencer for additional information

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Last Updated
November 18, 2023

 

Technical Info
OA-10

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