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| RAAF 3 OTU Former Assignments STF 20 Squadron 11 Squadron
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Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego as model 28-5MA. Constructor Number 40. Purchased by Qantas Empire Airways (QEA). On February 9, 1941, this Catalina was scheduled to depart San Diego but was delayed due to bad weather and instead departed three days later as part of Qantas delivery flight "B" across the Pacific arriving at Rose Bay Seaplane Base on February 27, 1941. Registered in Australia as VH-AFB. Wartime History Delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Originally designated Catalina A24-1, but redesignated Catalina A24-2 after arrival in Australia. On March 1, 1941 this Caltina arrived at Rathmines. On March 12, 1941 assigned to Seaplane Training Flight (STF). On May 13, 1941 assigned to 11 Squadron. On August 14, 1941 assigned to 20 Squadron with code RB-Z. On June 8, 1942 returned to Seaplane Training Flight (STF). On August 30, 1942 reassigned to 11 Squadron with fuselage code FJ-B. On February 24, 1942 took off from Port Moresby Flying Boat Base on a bombing mission against Rabaul with Catalina A24-13 (MIA) and Catalina A24-17. On February 28, 1942 this Catalina was being reapired on the slipway at Napa Napa and was damaged when six A6M2 Zeros six A6M2 Zeros from the 4th Kokutai led by Harutoshi Okamoto strafed the area. On January 7, 1943 took off piloted by piloted by Cunningham with co-pilot P/O Albert Minty on a rescue mission led by B-24D Liberator piloted by 1st Lt. James A. McMurria to rescue the crew of B-24D "Cowtown's Revenge" 41-23750 from Lifaba Island (Lebata Island). On April 14, 1943 assigned to 3 Operational Training Unit (3 OTU). Postwar On December 8, 1947 sold to J. Botterill & J. W. Fraser. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped. References ADF Serials - Catalina A24-2 “Mission from Manaus” Flight Lieutenant Albert Earnest Minty Black Cats: The Real Story of Australia’s Long Range Catalina Strike Force in the Pacific War (2001) Complied by A.E. Minty. Edited by Sandra Di Guglielmo Contribute
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