This is the beautifully restored Canadian Vickers manufactured PBY-5A Canso belonging to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. The term 'Canso' denotes a Canadian built example of the American Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina.

Manufactured  in 1944, it served with the RCAF until 1961 when it was sold as surplus. The Canso is restored in the colours and markings of 162 (Bomber Reconnaissance) Squadron and dedicated to the memory of Flight Lieutenant David Hornell, VC, who was awarded a posthumous Victoria Cross. On 24 June 1944 he and his crew bombed and sank U-1225. Sadly, the Germans shot down the Canso A, and Hornell and his crew spent more than twenty hours afloat on the ocean before being rescued. Hornell died shortly afterward.

Our long-time Canadian correspondent Alex Norton caught up with her at the Hamilton Airshow in Ontario during 2012 and shot these superbly detailed images and then sent them in for us all to share. Many thanks, Alex.

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