Snapshot in Time: Recalling when US crews and Catalina flying boats were in Geraldton during World War II

After the US belatedly joined in World War II following the devastating bombing of the American fleet at Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, three PBY Catalina flying boats were stationed at Geraldton Harbour. They are pictured at anchor before their usual early morning patrols. Refueling and arming was carried out at a small jetty purpose- built at the West End Beach and promptly named Yank’s Jetty. When major servicing was required wheels were fitted to the seaplane’s hull and a small crawler tractor hauled it ashore on a metal mesh bed laid across the hard white sand. During their service here one Catalina believed to have sustained hull damage in action, landed in the outer harbour, made a dash for the nearest shore near the old stock fence at Bluff Point and finished stuck hard and fast on the shallow reef. Eventually it was dismantled and railed to Perth, probably to the major Catalina base operating from Crawley. With a crew of from five to seven men and cruising at a sedate 180km/h, the Catalinas had a range of over 4000km. Armed with five .50 calibre machine guns, depth charges, bombs or torpedoes, they were ideal for patrols along the lengthy West Australia coastline. Well over 3000 Catalinas were built over 10 years from 1935 and a number are still flying today as water bombers and providing geological services. One of the veterans is on display in the RAAF Museum at Bull Creek. Snapshots is an initiative of the Geraldton Regional Library. For more information, or to donate a historical photo or slide, contact 9956 6659 or library@cgg.wa.gov.au