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  PBY-5A Catalina Bureau Number 46466 Tail VH-WWB

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PBY-5A Catalina bureau number 46466.

Postwar, this Catalina was purchased by Australasian Petroleum in March 1956 and registered as VH-WWB. This Catalina flew to support oil exploration activities in Papua New Guinea.

Sinking History
On June 16, 1957 this Catalina hit a log floating in the Kikori River and sank near Kikori.

Wreckage
This Catalina was abandoned in shallow water off Kikori Airfield.

Colin Richardson adds:
"As a boy, I remember the wreck of another Catalina being visible in the (then) shallows halfway across the river from the end of the airstrip, partly exposed at low tide. Not sure when it crashed. I paddled my dugout canoe over to it a few times, and once souvenired a bit of aluminum from it (long lost)."

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - PBY-5A Catalina 46466
"46466 to VH-WWB and w/o Jun 16, 1957"
Consolidated PBY Catalina pages 53-54

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Last Updated
October 1, 2022

 

Tech Info
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