VP-63 - Madcats at PD in '43 (Part 1)

PBY Catalinas at Pembroke Dock

Pembroke Dock became a Royal Air Force flying boat base in the early 1930s, in a political move, to lessen the catastrophic blow to the town in 1926, when the Royal Dockyard - the raison d'etre for the place - closed.

During the Second World War, Pembroke Dock (PD) became the most important flying boat base in the United Kingdom. At its peak, PD was home for about 100 flying boats. For an overview of the history of this ear in PD's life, I can do no better than refer you to the The Sunderland Trust. See:

http://www.sunderlandtrust.org.uk/


For a short time, in 1943, the US Navy took up residence at PD, working alongside the flying boats of RAF Coastal Command.

The unit involved was VP-63 (Patrol Squadron 63), with their PBY-5A  flying boats. In RAF service the PBY-5 was  known as  the Catalina.

For more pictures like that above go to: 

http://www.wings-aviation.ch/21-USNavy/Consolidated-PBY/Catalina.htm

The brief video clip below shows the aircraft of VP-63 at Pembroke Dock, alongside RAF Sunderland aircraft.

 Courtesy National Archives of the USA, ARC Identifier 75665