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In early
1945, a detached flight of two aircraft was sent to the Treasury Islands
for two week tours. They were tasked to cover fighter strikes on Rabaul,
and 'Dumbo' patrols to the south of New Ireland. The crews then returning
to Havalo Bay and normal operations.
6 (FB) Squadron was disbanded in October 1945, soon after the war had ended. It was reactivated as 6 (Maritime) Squadron of the Territorial Air Force (TAF) in 1952 and equipped with some of the PB2B-1's then in storage at Hobsonville. By the time the TAF scheme was abandoned in August
1957, and 6 Squadron was again disbanded, they were flying Short Sunderland
MR.5's. The last of the Catalinas having been pensioned off by the
end of 1953, and all sold for scrap by the end of 1956.
5 Flying Boat Squadron In July
1944, 5 (Flying Boat) Squadron was reactivated under the command of Wing
Commander J.W.H.Bray, and equipped with Catalinas. These were mostly Boeing
Canada built PB2B-1's.
After operational training at Lauthala Bay, the squadron moved forward to Segond Channel where it remained until the end of the war carrying out rescue missions, shipping escorts and anti-submarine patrols. A detached
flight of four aircraft and crews operated in the same role from Funafuti
in the Ellice Islands.
At the wars end, 5 (FB) Squadron withdrew to Lauthala Bay, where the PB2B-1's were re-equipped with the latest radar units mounted in a teardrop shaped pod mounted just behind the cockpit. The squadron codes were changed post war to KN-x
and operated until their replacement by the MR.5 Sunderlands in late 1953.
Of the 56 Catalinas used by the RNZAF, not one remains in New Zealand. The example in the RNZAF Museum had no RNZAF service history, and was obtained from Papua New Guinea. Seven
PBY-5's were lost in wartime accidents, and eight PB2B's were written off
between 1945 and 1950.
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