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. |