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| USN FAW-1 VP-91  Tulagi Dive 2016  Dive Gizo / Danny Kennedy 2016  Dive Gizo / Danny Kennedy August 14, 2022 |
Aircraft Commander Lt(jg) James C. Doyle (survived) Crew Lt(jg) Grant M. Christiansen (survived) Crew Chief Aviation Pilot (CAP) Fred W. Howard Jr. (survived) Passenger ARM2c Otis C. Gannon (KIA) MS Passenger ARM1 Paul A. McKinley (survived) Passenger Lt(jg) David A. Ratley (survived) Crashed November 18, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PBY-5 Catalina bureau number 04513. Wartime History Assigned to Fleet Air Wing 1 (FAW-1), Patrol Squadron 91 (VP-91). Side Number 91-P-3. No known nickname or nose art. Mission History On November 18, 1942 during take off from Tulagi Harbor piloted by Lt(jg) James C. Doyle for a flight bound for Espiritu Santo. During take off, this Catalina suffered an accident and sank. During the accident, ARM2c Otis C. Gannon was killed. Jim Sawruk adds: "Gannon and I think Ratley and McKinley were from USS San Francisco (CA-38) aviation unit." Recovery of Remains After the crash, Gannon's body was recovered. Postwar, transported to Hawaii for permanent burial. Wreckage This Catalina rests on the sea floor at a depth of 85'-111' / 26-34m. Later, on April 7, 1943 fleet oiler USS Kanawha (AO-1) sank nearby. During 1991, this Catalina was discovered by Dr. Robert Ballard with side scan sonar. during the underwater search for The Lost Ships of Guadalcanal. On November 3, 2011 during "Operation Calypso" rediscovered by HMNZS Resolution (A14) side scan sonar. On November 13, 2011 SCUBA dived by Royal New Zealand Navy Lt. Cdr. Matt Wray and PODR Spencer Dimond. Later, this Catalina was identified by Ewan Stevenson as PBY Catalina Bureau Number 04513. The left engine has fallen off the mount and the wing is collapsed atop the fuselage causing the nose section to point upward. Memorials Gannon is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section C site 1620. References Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBY-5 Catalina 04513 U.S. Navy Overseas Loss List - 1942 - PBY-5 Catalina 04513 "421121 / PBY-5 / 04513 / FAW-1 / SOPAC" date of crash listed as November 21, 1942 Tulagi Dive - PBY Catalina (photo) "The aircraft righted itself when it sank and now sits upright on the bottom in 26 to 34 metres of water. The Catalina was fitted with radar and the antenna can still be seen under the wing and, as it was in the process of landing, the wing tip floats are in the dropped position. Being a recent discovery the site remains as it has been for the last 70 odd years aside from natural decay. Site is in a calm area and makes a great second dive after one of the deeper wrecks or a site for those wishing to see some WWII wreckage without needing to do a decompression dive." Archaehistoria - Solomon Islands November 2014 Expedition "3. Matt Wray’s Catalina. 28 November 2014 Discovered by Dr. Robert Ballard in 1991 during side scan sonar surveys from Restless M. Re-discovered by HMNZS Resolution (A14) (Operation Calypso) 3 November 2011. First divers: Lt. Cdr. Matt Wray and PODR Spencer “Jim” Dimond on 13 November 2011. Archaehistoria.org identifies this site as Catalina PBY-5, BuNo. 04513, Side No. 91-P-3, from U.S. Navy Squadron Ninety-One (VP-91) crashed 18 November 1942 with PPC Lt (jg). James C. Doyle." FindAGrave - Otis Charles Gannon (grave photo) Thanks to Jim Sawruk for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated December 2, 2023 |
 PBY Photo Archive 85'-111' 26-34m |
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