The PB2Y Coronado is a large flying boatpatrol bomber designed by Consolidated Aircraft, and used by the US Navy during World War II in bombing, antisubmarine, medical/hospital plane, and transport roles. Obsolete by the end of the war, Coronados were quickly taken out of service. Only one known example remains, at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Before WW2 large flying boats were important for long distance international routes, as the ability to land on water without a land-based airstrip was useful. It proved to be good supporting aircraft in the Pacific War, which often required transport across long distance of oceans in harm's way, to places with no prepared airstrips.
There were two main configurations, one with several turrets including a prominent ball turret in the nose with two 50-cal machine guns, and one unarmed, with a clean nose.
The aircraft had a unique place in history, bringing Admiral Nimitz to Tokyo bay for the signing of the Japanese surrender for WW2. Also, after the war one was used by Hughes Aviation. Of the aircraft one survived the war to be exhibited in an aviation museum.
Design and development
The XPB2Y-1 prototype with a single tail in 1938
After deliveries of the PBY Catalina, also a Consolidated aircraft, began in 1935, the United States Navy began planning for the next generation of patrol bombers. Orders for two prototypes, the XPB2Y-1 and the Sikorsky XPBS-1, were placed in 1936; the prototype Coronado first flew in December 1937.[1]
After trials with the XPB2Y-1 prototype revealed some stability issues, the design was finalized as the PB2Y-2, with a large cantilever wing, twin tail with very marked dihedral, and four Pratt & Whitney R-1830radial engines. The two inner engines were fitted with four-bladed reversible pitchpropellers; the outer engines had standard three-bladed feathering props.[2] Like the PBY Catalina before it, the PB2Y's wingtip floats retracted to reduce drag and increase range, with the floats' buoyant hulls acting as the wingtips when retracted. The price of the PB2Y-2 was US$300,000, or approximately three times that of the PBY Catalina.[3]
Development continued throughout the war. The PB2Y-3, featuring self-sealing fuel tanks and additional armor, entered service just after the attack on Pearl Harbor and formed most of the early-war Coronado fleet. The prototype XPB2Y-4 was powered by four Wright R-2600 radials and offered improved performance, but the increases were not enough to justify a full fleet update. However, most PB2Y-3 models were converted to the PB2Y-5 standard, with the R-1830 engines replaced with single-stage R-1830-92 models. As most existing PB2Y-3s were used as transports, flying low to avoid combat, removing the excess weight of unneeded superchargers allowed an increased payload without harming low-altitude performance.[4]
A prototype of the Consolidated XPB3Y variant was ordered, which would be a long range version of the Coronado, but this was cancelled.
Operational history
British Coronados and Catalinas at RAF Darrell's Island, Bermuda.PB2Y taking off in 1942;the Coronado was the largest aircraft in service with the USN at the time
Coronados served in combat in the Pacific with the United States Navy, in both bombing and antisubmarine roles. PB2Y-5 Coronados carried out four bombing raids on Wake Island between 30 January and 9 February 1944.[3] However, most served as transport and hospital aircraft, and additional tasks included executive transport and search and rescue.
The British Royal Air ForceCoastal Command had hoped to use the Coronado as a maritime patrol bomber, as it already used the PBY Catalina. However, the range of the Coronado (1,070 miles) compared poorly with the Catalina (2,520mi), and the Short Sunderland (1,780mi). Consequently, the Coronados supplied to the RAF under Lend-Lease were outfitted purely as transports, serving with RAF Transport Command. The 10 aircraft were used for transatlantic flights, staging through the RAF base at Darrell's Island, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico, though the aircraft were used to deliver vital cargo and equipment in a transportation network that stretched down both sides of the Atlantic, from Newfoundland, to Brazil, and to Nigeria, and other parts of Africa. After the war ended five of the RAF aircraft were scrapped, one was already lost in collision with a Martin PBM Mariner and the last four were scuttled off the coast of Bermuda in 1946.[5]
A PB2Y Coronado shoots down G4M "Betty" in 1944.
In combat missions PB2Y claimed five enemy aircraft shot down over the course of WW2.[6] Likewise, an example of one lost to combat is at Kerema Rhetto, Okinawa, May 5, 1945. An example of a search and rescue mission is that a PB2Y landed hard on water of Kagoshima Bay to rescue a downed pilot. Unable to takeoff again, a PBM Mariner picked up the crew and pilot, and scuttled the aircraft with a strafe. [7]
Coronados served as a major component in the Naval Air Transport Service (NATS) during World War II in the Pacific theater. Most had originally been acquired as combat patrol aircraft, but the limitations noted above quickly relegated them to transport service in the American naval air fleet also. By the end of World War II, the Coronado was outmoded as both a bomber and a transport, and virtually all of them were quickly scrapped by the summer of 1946, being melted down to aluminum ingots and sold as metal scrap,[8] or used as targets for fighter gunnery practice.[3]
After the war some were used for civilian service; one is reportedly bought by Howard Hughes to practice water landings for the 1947 flight of the Hughes Spruce Goose.[9]
Variants
PB2Y-2 in 1941PB2Y-3R unloading at a dock, 1943PB2Y in 1944 in the Pacific
The bulk of the production was the PB2Y-3, with 210 produced it featured turrets. Significant numbers of unarmed transport version were also produced or converted from existing versions.
PB2Y-3s converted with four 1,200hp (890kW)Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp engines, increased fuel capacity and provision for RATOG (rocket assisted take-off gear).
PB2Y-5R
PB2Y-5s converted as unarmed transports, some fitted for medical evacuation role. The medical evacuation version could hold up to 25 stretchers.[10]
Operators
Coronado GR.I at RAE Helensburgh in 1944PB2Y-3 of VPB-1 at Galapagos naval air station in 1945Nimitz arrives in Tokyo to conclude WW2
The main operator was the United States Navy, and some served with United Kingdom Royal Air Force. 5 served with United States Coast Guard. After the war there was some civilian use also.
This PB2Y-5R crashed 6 December 1944 at Kanton Island in Phoenix Islands (modern day Kiribati)
There were many accidents with the PB2Y incidents of different types.[7]
There is a sunken PB2Y Coronado in Tanapag Lagoon of Saipan. This wreck has been studied for marine archeology.[12]
After its capture Ebeye from the Japanese, it was used as seaplane for stopover for flying boats transiting the Pacific. At least two Coronados crashed near Naval Air Base Ebeye Island, at Kwajalein Atoll.[13]
14 September 1944, a PB2Y-3 broke apart during practice landings killing one.[13][7]
12 February 1945, a PB2Y-5R crashed on landing from a trip from Honolulu, ripping off the nose and sinking claiming two lives. [13][7]
Also, in February 1944 a PB2Y ran into a reef while taxiing and was subsequently broken up and sank in the lagoon.[13]
Some of these wrecks were discovered in the early 21st century and in some cases visited by divers.[13]
Additional examples:
On 6 May 1942, a PB2Y crashed crashed and sank in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii during an emergency landing, claiming the lives of two.[7]
On December 27, 1942 one crashed landing on the Salton Sea, killing 6.[7]
On May 21, 1943 one crashed with the loss of all crew at Little Creek, Virginia, USA.[7]
May 23, 1943 a PB2Y ran out of fuel near Bermuda, on landing the right right pontoon ripped off and the aircraft rolled over and sank.[7]
May 24, 1943 a PB2Y broke in two when it was forced to land on the ground at San Mieuel Rea, Mexico.[7]
On November 26, 1943 a PB2Y crashed landing during a training flight at NAS Alamedea, USA.[7]
January 1, 1944 nine perished in a crash in the Great Sound of Bermuda and another crash at Bermuda occurred on May 26, 1943.[7]
On February 17, 1944 a PB2Y engine failed during takeoff, causing it to crash into a barracks killing 2 on the ground, and 7 of 12 on the aircraft.[7]
The Consolidated Model 28, more commonly known as the PBY Catalina, is a flying boat and amphibious aircraft that was produced in the 1930s and 1940s. In US Army service it was designated the OA-10, in Canadian service as the Canso and it later got the NATO reporting name Mop. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II. Catalinas served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other nations. The last military PBYs served until the 1980s. As of 2021, 86 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as a waterbomber in aerial firefighting operations in some parts of the world.
The Martin PBM Mariner was a twin-engine American patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War era. It was designed to complement the Consolidated PBY Catalina and PB2Y Coronado in service. A total of 1,366 PBMs were built, with the first example flying on February 18, 1939, and the type entering service in September 1940, with the last of the type being retired in 1964.
The Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp is an American air-cooled radial aircraft engine. It displaces 1,830 cu in (30.0 L) and its bore and stroke are both 5.5 in (140 mm). The design traces its history to 1929 experiments at Pratt & Whitney on twin-row designs. Production began in 1932 and it was widely used during the 1930s.
The Consolidated XPB3Y was a proposed extra-long-range flying boat for patrol and bombardment missions, developed from the earlier PB2Y Coronado. The United States Navy ordered the construction of a prototype on April 2, 1942. On November 4 of the same year, however, the aircraft was cancelled due to the higher priority accorded to other Consolidated projects.
Koggala Airport in Sri Lanka was originally a Royal Air Force (RAF) Station RAF Koggala. It is now the SLAF Koggala, used for domestic flights and for military purposes.
The Sikorsky VS-44 was a large four-engined flying boat built in the United States in the early 1940s by Sikorsky Aircraft. Based on the XPBS-1 patrol bomber, the VS-44 was designed primarily for the transatlantic passenger market, with a capacity of 40+ passengers. Three units were produced: Excalibur, Excambian, and Exeter, plus two XPBS-1 prototypes.
The Budd RB-1 Conestoga was a twin-engine, stainless steel cargo aircraft designed for the United States Navy during World War II by the Budd Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Although it did not see service in a combat theater, it pioneered design innovations in American cargo aircraft, later incorporated in modern military cargo airlifters.
The Douglas XP3D was a prototype American patrol flying boat of the 1930s. A twin-engined high-winged monoplane, the P3D was produced by the Douglas Aircraft Company to equip the US Navy's Patrol squadrons, but despite meeting the Navy's requirements, the rival Consolidated PBY was preferred owing to a lower price.
VPB-63 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 63 (VP-63) on 19 September 1942, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 63 (VPB-63) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 2 July 1945.
VPB-84 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 84 (VP-84) on 1 October 1941, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 84 (VPB-84) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 28 June 1945. The squadron flew the PBY-5A Catalina throughout its operational history.
VP-27 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 83 (VP-83) on 15 September 1941, redesignated Bombing Squadron 107 (VB-107) on 15 May 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 107 (VPB-107) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 107 (VP-107) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 7 (VP-HL-7) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 27 (VP-27) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 11 January 1950.
VP-29 was a Patrol Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 14-F (VP-14F) on 1 November 1935, redesignated Patrol Squadron 14 (VP-14) on 4 September 1937, redesignated Patrol Squadron 52 (VP-52) on 1 July 1939, redesignated Patrol Squadron 72 (VP-72) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 122 (VPB-122) on 1 October 1944, redesignated Patrol Squadron 122 (VP-122) on 15 May 1946, redesignated Heavy Patrol Squadron (Landplane) 12 (VP-HL-12) on 15 November 1946, redesignated Patrol Squadron 29 (VP-29) on 1 September 1948 and disestablished on 18 January 1950.
VPB-1 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 1 (VP-1) on 15 April 1943, redesignated as Patrol Bombing Squadron 1 (VPB-1) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished 6 March 1945.
VPB-13 was a patrol bombing squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 13 (VP-13) on 1 July 1940, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 13 (VPB-13) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 1 December 1945.
VPB-125 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 20 (VP-20) on 1 September 1938, redesignated Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44) on 1 July 1940, redesignated Patrol Squadron 61 (VP-61) on 6 January 1941, redesignated Patrol Squadron 82 (VP-82) on 1 July 1941, redesignated Bombing Squadron 125 (VB-125) on 1 March 1943, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 125 (VPB-125) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 8 June 1945.
VPB-100 was a Patrol Bombing Squadron of the U.S. Navy. The squadron was established as Patrol Squadron 100 (VP-100) on 1 April 1944, redesignated Patrol Bombing Squadron 100 (VPB-100) on 1 October 1944 and disestablished on 15 December 1945.
Exmouth Submarine Base, called Operation Potshot, was a United States Navy base at Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia during World War II. Exmouth Gulf on western Australia was selected as the site for US Naval base as it was thought at the time to be out of the reach of Empire of Japan's long-range bombers. Bombing of Darwin on February 19, 1942, demonstrated a more southern port was needed. The Submarine operation at Exmouth Gulf and the North West Cape was called Operation Potshot, named after the Potshot airfield that provided fighter plane cover for the base.
Bridgeman, Leonard (1946). "The Consolidated Vultee Model 29 Coronado". Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II. London: Studio. ISBN1-85170-493-0.
Burney, Allan. Flying Boats of World War 2 (The Aeroplane & Flight Magazine Aviation Archive Series). London: Key Publishing Ltd., 2015. ISBN978-1-909786-110.
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Five: Flying Boats. London: Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1962 (Fifth impression 1972). ISBN0-356-01449-5.
Hoffman, Richard Capt. USN (ret.). Consolidated PB2Y Coronado (Naval Fighters 85). Simi Valley, California, USA: Ginter Books, 2009. ISBN978-0-942612-85-1.
March, Daniel J. (2000). British warplanes of World War II. Rochester: Grange. ISBN1-84013-391-0.
Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to American Aircraft of World War II. London: Hamlyn Publishing Group Ltd., 1982 (republished 1996 by the Chancellor Press, reprinted 2002). ISBN1-85152-706-0.
Further reading
Pomeroy, Colin A. (July–August 2002). "Bermudian 'Boats: Snapshots of the RAF Flying-boat Era in Bermuda". Air Enthusiast. No.100. pp.40–45. ISSN0143-5450.
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