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| RAAF No. 20 Squadron Former Assignments Qantas Empire Airways No. 11 Squadron |
Aircraft History Built by Consolidated in San Diego. Constructors Number 164. Purchased by Qantas Empire Airways (QEA) and flown across the Pacific to Australia. On June 17, 1941 registered in Australia as VH-AFF. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). On July 27, 1941 assigned to No. 11 Squadron. On August 14, 1941 assigned to No. 20 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. This Catalina was operating from Fairfax Harbor at Port Moresby. On February 3, 1942 during the night took off from Fairfax Harbor piloted by F/L Hemsworth and co-pilot Sgt C W Miller on a night raid against Japanese shipping in Simpson Harbor off Rabaul. The formation included five Catalinas: this aircraft, Catalina A24-3, Catalina A24-18, Catalina A24-14, Catalina A24-17. Over the target, this Catalina was attacked by A5M4 Claudes of the Chitose Kōkūtai (operating in tandem with the searchlight crews) over the target, and damaged, possibly by FPO/1C Hiroyoshi Nishizawa and claimed a Catalina that night. All bombs were jettisoned and the aircraft attempted to gain cover of clouds. Both port and starboard fuel tanks were holed and a burst was received in the oil tank which severed an oil line. The aircraft escaped and proceeded to Salamaua where a forced landing was made at 1700Z/3. Repairs were attempted and the aircraft then departed on on one engine at 2341Z/3 and landed at Fairfax Harbor at 0700Z/4 the next day. Sinking History On April 24, 1942 while moored off the Qantas Flying Boat Base at Fairfax Harbor off Port Moresby strafed by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kōkūtai and sunk. Wreckage Postwar, the hulk of this PBY was visible south of the seaplane launch ramp. Until 1967, this Catalina remained in situ when the Australian Defense Force (ADF) divers placed charges on the wreck and demolished it, believing that it might contain mines. Afterwards, only smaller pieces remained including. In the late 1970s, diver Bob Halstead located a machine gun in the wreckage. In August 1978, the area was dredged, and remaining wreckage was removed or buried. Display In the late 1970s during dredging, one engine with its propeller attached was salvaged, and taken to the PNG War Museum, where it is displayed next to museum's indoor gallery entrance, and remains to this day. References 11 Squadron Diary February 3, 1942 NAA "RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 20 Squadron Aug 41 - Mar 46" (NAA: A9186, 41) pages 122 (Page 122) 3/2/42 [February 3, 1942] An attack by aircraft of 11 and 20 Squadron on Japanese surface vessels in Rabaul Harbour [Simpson Harbor] and vicinity with priority of targets as follows (a) cruisers and destroyers (b) troopships (c) flyingboats. Aircraft and crews were as follows..." ADF Serials - Catalina A24-5 Wrecks & Reefs (1994) pages 139 - 140 Contribute
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