US Navy PBY Catalina Units of the Pacific War (Osprey Combat Aircraft, No. 62) (Combat Aircraft)

by Louis B. Dorny

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Although designed in the mid-1930s and in squadron service several years prior to the Pearl Harbor attack, the PBY Catalina proved its soundness in combat throughout the four years that the World War 2 raged across the Pacific. Deadly in its primary role as a submarine hunter, the PBY was the scourge of the Imperial Japanese Navy's submarine force. Its amphibious traits also made the aircraft well suited to air-sea rescue, and thousands of Allied airmen were saved from a watery grave by PBY crews.

Using personal interviews, war diaries and combat reports combined with original Japanese records and books, Louis B Dorny provides a view on the role of the Catalina from both sides of the war. Illustrated with over 80 photographs and color profiles detailing aircraft markings, this is the definitive history of and insight into the PBY's use by the US Navy and Allied forces in the Pacific during World War 2.

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All Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 4 out of 5 stars

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

A more balance view, 2008-02-06
I really like Lou's book because it does a good job of covering all the many operations and actions the PBY units in the Pacific were in. I especially like the early operations coverage of the PBY (Patrol Wing Ten in the Philippine/DEI and the Aleutians). He has managed to do this all in less than 100 pages. Much new information and photos are included with excellent PBY profiles and art work on the cover. All in all this is a great companion to Ragnar's book on the Atlantic operations. Good job Lou!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4 out of 5 stars

Cats Prowl the Pacific!, 2008-01-10
Osprey Publishing wraps up its two-volume history of the PBY in World War with Louis Dorny's take on Catalina ops in the Pacific, #62 in their 'Combat Aircraft' series.

Consolidated's lumbering patrol bomber saw just as much action if not moreso in the PTO than their ETO counterparts. The Catalina was THE main patrol aircraft during WWII as well as the primary air-sea-rescue bird. It notched up many historic milestones in the Pacific including first USN aircraft to engage Japanese air units, first aircraft to fire on Japanese forces, first USN aircraft to down a Zero, discoverer of the Japanese fleet at Midway, etc. Whether flying in the god-awful Aleutians or over the trackless Pacific Ocean the PBY was a major player.

Given the broad canvas he has to cover, Dorny does a fairly good job of covering the action. He includes a great deal of information on squadron movements, etc. and, to be honest, I would have preferred a few more combat reports and less on adminstrative matters.

The PBY's story is illustrated with 100 black & white photographs and 11 pages of color profiles.

An interesting look at a rarely chronicled warbird!

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

5 out of 5 stars

Comes packed with statistics and history., 2007-12-02
Louis B. Dorny's US NAVY PBY CATALINA UNITS OF THE PACIFIC WAR is the second of two volumes (the other being Ragnor Ragnarsson's US NAVY PBY CATALINA UNITS OF THE ATLANTIC WAR): each volume packs in vintage black and white photos, history, and close-up shots of the planes and each comes packed with statistics and history.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3 out of 5 stars

Ordered with great Expectation, 2007-11-09
I have read numerious books about the PBY and its Squadrons. My interest is sparked by a relative who fly one in the South Pacific, VP 54 actually. When this book was first advertised, I ordered it with great expectations to read various insights about the aircraft as well as specific information regarding the planes, missions, achievements and experiences. Unfortunatley I found the book to be rather dull. It covered various organizational changes, Chains of Command but very little in the way of new information about the airplane, its pilots and crews or the specific missions it was assigned. I actually learned more about the aircraft and VP-54 on the internet.

I must admit the author took on a task too large to be written in such a short book. No wonder it was shallow and disappointing. If you want to read this book, get it from a library then decide if you want to buy it. I myself, will probably never read it twice.

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