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A PB2Y-3 of VPB-1 on Seymour Island, the Galapagos, 1944

#us navy #usn #PB2Y #Coronado #warbird #aviation history #VPB 1

A Consolidated PB2Y Coronado in flight, circa 1942.

Photographed by Peter Stackpole for LIFE Magazine.

LIFE Magazine Archives: 5922925

#Consolidated PB2Y Coronado #PB2Y #flying boat #1942 #world war 2 #world war ii #WWII #WW2 #united states navy #u.s. navy #us navy #navy #usn #color photo #my post

Several years ago visiting Pensacola, the door to one of the restoration hangars was open so I peeked in and got this shot of the Consolidated PB2Y Coronado under restoration- today it’s on display inside the National Naval Aviation Museum. Note the four-bladed props inboard and three bladed ones on the outboard engine. The first PB2Y Coronados had three bladed propellers on all four engines. However, operational experience had shown that the inboard props were subject to more pitting and corrosion caused by the spray thrown up by the Coronado’s hull on landings and takeoffs. Since the outboard engines were further away, they weren’t as badly damaged by repeated spray exposure. As a result, the inboard engines on the Coronado fleet were refitted with four bladed props that were several inches shorter and less impacted by the spray. A smaller propeller with a fourth blade generated the same propulsive force as the larger original three bladed propellers which remained on the outboard engines. Note also the bomb bays in the wings behind the engine nacelles. In January and February 1944, the PB2Ys of VP-13 and VP-102 were assigned to conduct bombing raids on Wake Island which was occupied by the Japanese. VP-13 would attack with 13 Coronado aircraft at low level followed 25 minutes later by VP-102’s Coronados attacking from 8000 feet. Four such attacks were made the by the PB2Ys of both squadrons. For the most part, though, the Coronado fleet was used as transports as their range was actually shorter than that of the aircraft they were supposed to replace, the PBY Catalina. Ten PB2Ys were sold to the RAF, but they found the Short Sunderland to have better range and those RAF Coronados served in transport roles during the war. The Coronado on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum is the sole surviving example. | October Aviation Photo Challenge | @kjdphoto1971 | #1017planes | “Night at the Museum” | Day 13 | #avgeek #aviation #aircraft #planeporn #KNPA #NPA #NASPensacola #Pensacola #NationalNavalAviationMuseum #airport #Florida #Consolidated #PB2Y #Coronado #flyingboat #mil_aviation_originals #instaaviation #Avgeekery #AvgeekSchoolofKnowledge (at National Naval Aviation Museum)