WIX Archives

Why bother raising them???

Posted by Paul McMillan on Sat Mar 09, 2002 12:54:35 AM

The article appears in Aircraft Illustrated April 2002 Issue... As some of the stories from this magazine come from the Internet, I have no problem posting this here.. It is worth a bigger audiance as it raises a couple of concerns:

"Cat-Fish

Stories about a number of nearly new PBY-5 Catalinas lying at the bottom of Lough Erne somewhere around or between the former RAF Castle Archdale and Kildeas in Co Fermanagh, come to the surface every few years. After the war the flying boats were scuttled to satisfy Lend-Lease conditions. A large number of aircraft were supplied to Britain by the US Government during the war, but when hostilities ceased many of them were no longer required by the RAF and Fleet Air Arm. They could either be returned to the USA, if they were wanted back, or they had to be scrapped. So, the 'plug was pulled' on at least six Catalinas, amongst which JX243 is reported to have
only 48 flying hours.

Five years ago the Catalina Society noted in its Newsletter that a project was underway to raise one of these Catalinas from the bottom of the freshwater lough. Nothing has been heard of this since. However, a new project is now being planned by Rupert Neesham, who has secured the salvage rights to what he believes might be as many as eight aircraft. He intends to do a sonar sweep of the lough bed in April and if positive identification is made a team will start diving in July. At the moment Rupert is uncertain what he might do with the Catalinas once they are brought ashore. It will be a costly exercise and the bottom line (?750 per ton as scrap, a realistic offer from a museum or restorer or even convert them to Thames housEtloats) , might be the deciding factor. "

Now.. firstly, what is the point of raising these if there is no market for them and then selling them as scrap? That would be the biggest sin of all what a waste. Truely something to make grown man cry.. Leave them where they are until someone with enough money or time or will is around to go an get them and who can actully do something with them..

Hopefully both the RAF Museum and IWM would want one (they both do not have 'their own' Catalinas).. Especially if they are real RAF ones... But even if they do buy them... That is still up to a max of 6 going to the melters. I cannot see there being a worldwide market it swallow upto 8 in one go. Especially as they would need a lot of work on them... Regardless of the fact that they are in fresh water. Also these birds are a bit to big even for us who would love one in their back garden or garage... Spitfire or 2 yes a possibilty (aka Mr P Arnold) but a Catalina no....

BTW - JX243 was with both 190 and 210 Sqns and SOC 26.3.47.

This has to be a 'clean up date' as a number of Catalinas were SOC on the same date..

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