Best Maritime Patrol Aircraft of WW2

[DaveB.inVa]

The Catalina was definatley one of the greats used during the war especially being an amphibian. Others in my book are the PB4Y-1 and PB4Y-2 Privateer.

A couple that hardly ever receive any recognition are the B-18's, B-10's and blimps that patrolled coastal waters off the U.S.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

The Catalina was definatley one of the greats used during the war especially being an amphibian. Others in my book are the PB4Y-1 and PB4Y-2 Privateer.

A couple that hardly ever receive any recognition are the B-18's, B-10's and blimps that patrolled coastal waters off the U.S.

The B-18 was one of the first aircraft to have a MAD boom installed on thie tail.

 

[Erich]

Ju 290A from FAGr 5

 

[superunknown]

I would definately have to go with the Catalina, with the Liberator running a close second. The Catalina was in it's element doing the jobs it did, I dred to think how many people would have been drowned/eaten by sharks/ lost at sea if it wasn't for the Cat. Not to mention the amount of shipping it sunk.

It giveth, and than taketh away!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Being a former "VP" sailor this subject is near and dear to me as the USN VP community is a very close community with a lot of history and tradition. Here's the link for VP-12, supposedly the original "Black Cat" squadron.

http://www.daveswarbirds.com/blackcat/hist-12.htm

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The Catalina is deffinatly the best and there is no dispute about it.

I also like the Dornier Do-24.

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

The PBY Catalina and Short Sunderland are my best maritime patrol flying boats of WW2. The Fw 200, PB4Y-2 Privateer, and Lockheed Hudson/Ventura lineage are my favorite land-based maritime patrol planes.

 

[Jager52]

Catalina for choice number1. Second would be Fw200, overlooking the fuselage structural issue.
Jager
Living On Tulsa Time

 

[swampyankee]

Catalina, Sunderland, Consolidated Privateer. For the Axis, the Kawanishi H8K

 

[Admiral Beez]

The Cat participated in all theaters during WW2 (With the exception of the Russian Front

Russians got the PBN variant.

Naval Aircraft Factory PBN-1 Nomad

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Russians got the PBN variant.

View attachment 566384

Consolidated PBY Catalina - Wikipedia

They did but I don't think any flew over Stalingrad...

 

[GrauGeist]

Yet another archaic thread brought to life...

Aside from the Catalina, I say that the H8K should be high on the list and the Bv222 should rank among the top...especially since it was the largest aircraft in history to engage enemy aircraft and down them.