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| RAF No, 240 Squadron  RAF c1944  RAF c1945  Jared Grimmer 2005 |
Pilot Pilot Officer James Park Grounded September 16, 1944 Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego. Constructors Number 299. Ordered under contract C-78 and built as a model 28-5MC for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as Catalina IIA serial number 9718. Before completion, transfered to the Royal Air Force (RAF) to repay loan of RAF Catalinas in early 1941. Wartime History On November 15, 1941 transfered to British Air Commision and assigned to Royal Air Force (RAF) to No. 3 Training Command for the flight to the United Kingdom. On March 18, 1942 ferried overseas to Saunders Roe, Beaumaris, Anglesey Island off the northwest coast of Wales. On April 2, 1942 departed for Scottish Aviation at Greenock, Scotland and afterwards returned to Beaumaris. On June 15, 1942 departed for Lough Erne, North Ireland. Assigned to No. 240 Squadron preparing to deploy in the Far East and and registration changed to VA718 and assigned squadron code "K". Assigned to pilot P/O Park who nicknamed the Catalina "Katie" since the squadron code was "K". Ferried overseas to India, this Catalina operated from many locations including Red Hills Lake (Madras), Coconada, Cochin, Koggala, Addu Atoll, Kelaa Atoll, Diego Garcia and China Bay. Mission History On September 15, 1944 took off from Red Hills Lake Seaplane Base near Madras, India on an 8 1/2 hour flight bound for Kelaa Seaplane Base (Kelai) in northern Maldive Islands to refuel. During a storm, the refueling bowser sank, forcing this Catalina to fly another two hours further to Diego Garcia, while searching for a reported Japanese submarine. Lost, the crew sent a QDM message by hand, and then held down the key so that the radio operators could get a fix and give them directions to Diego Garcia. On September 16, 1944 after successfully landing in the lagoon at Diego Garcia, both engines cut due to fuel starvation while taxing to the mooring buoy. Overnight, a cyclone strength storm sprang the Catalina from its mooring and caused it to drift. Out of fuel and riding high on the water, it ran aground on the eastern side of the lagoon near Pointe de'lEst. None of the crew were injured. The next morning, as much equipment as possible was salvaged from the Catalina including the eight day clock, cases, life rafts, life jackets, parachutes and stove. Rescue The crew waited on Diego Garcia until September 25, when Catalina VA720 arrived from Madras with S/L Parry who inspected the wreckage and determined it a total loss. Taking the crew aboard, they flew to Addu Atoll then to Koggala, Ceylon and then back to base at Redhills Lake in Madras two days later. Wreckage Abandoned, waves pushed the wreck ashore and the engines and more equipment was removed, and at one point in 1945, a swastika was spray painted over the RAF roundel. Today, the shell of the aircraft remains on the east side of Diego Garcia next to the coconut plantation. References Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers RCAF 9701 to 9750 Detailed List - 9718 The Story of "Katie" Jim Park's Catalina Consolidated PBY Catalina: the peacetime record page 226 Peak of Limuria The Story of Diego Garcia (1993) pages 70-71 Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated June 11, 2021 |
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