CAF PBY Catalina Featured in The 12 Planes of Christmas Campaign

The Commemorative Air Force’s Lake Superior Squadron PBY-6A Catalina is one of the twelve airplanes featured in the CAF ‘s annual 12 Planes of Christmas fundraising campaign. The goal for this year is to raise $25,000 to help restore this historic flying boat. The squadron’s goal is to have this important WWII plane flying again in 2023 as a way of honoring veterans, while also helping educate and inspire current and future generations about sacrifices made by The Greatest Generation.

Volunteers plan to work through winter despite the cold temps along Lake Superior. Currently, the Catalina is inside the hangar for the winter. However, the unit’s new hangar has no doors to protect the interior from harsh winter weather unfortunately. As a consequence, the CAF-LSS is also currently raising funds to purchase doors for their new facility, click HERE to help.  Thankfully, they have been able to set up tenting which allows a heated cocoon for the fuselage from the side blisters to the bow, so work can at least continue in these areas in the absence of hangar doors. Upcoming tasks include working on the fuselage (left side) and the forward wheel compartment. Within the next few months the unit expects to able to install the characteristic Catalina nose turret.

For a recent update on progress with this aircraft, please check our article HERE.