HELP US RESTORE OUR WWII-ERA PBY CATALINA
A New Chapter Begins for our PBY Catalina!
We’re proud to announce an exciting new chapter in the journey of our legendary Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina flying boat. Thanks to your incredible support, the aircraft has been safely transported from the National Naval Air Museum in Florida to the Air Zoo in Michigan, where it will soon undergo an extensive, world-class restoration.
This effort is part of a special collaboration between Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and the renowned restoration team at the Air Zoo. Together, we’re working to return the PBY to its original condition. This process will take hundreds of hours and cost more than $500,000. Each dollar will help preserve this important piece of history.
Will you consider making a special gift to support this important restoration?
The restoration of this PBY and its historic return to Ford Island will be a powerful full-circle moment. Sitting amongst the very hangars that withstood the infamous this PBY will honor the crews that flew and maintained these historic aircraft that were targeted that fateful day and played a pivotal role throughout the ensuing conflict. Standing as a living tribute to the enduring spirit of Pearl Harbor this PBY will inspire our visitors.
Every dollar will help us bring this iconic aircraft home to honor the past, inspire future generations, and ensure its story is never forgotten.
The PBY Catalina holds a profound place in the story of World War II and Pearl Harbor. Just hours before the first bombs fell on December 7, 1941, a PBY spotted a Japanese midget submarine approaching the harbor entrance. Coordinating with the USS Ward the aircraft dropped flares and depth charges. This action, along with those of the USS Ward, marked America’s first shots of World War II. Though many were destroyed in the attack, a few remaining PBYs launched from Ford Island to search for the enemy fleet.
HELP HONOR
PBY Flight Engineer CASH BARBER
Lieutenant Commander Clyde Cassius “Cash” Barber
While at the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) in Pensacola preparing our PBY for transport, we met WWII veteran and PBY Flight Engineer, Lieutenant Commander Clyde Cassius “Cash” Barber. At 99 years of age, Cash remains a volunteer at NNAM. His story reminds us of why a PBY must be on display at our museum.
After joining the Navy at 17, by November 1941, Seaman 2nd class Cassius Barber had completed Aviation Machinist Mate School, also known as “Mech” school, and received orders to report to Patrol Wing 1 (PatWing 1), located at Naval Air Station Kaneohe Bay. On December 6, 1941, he boarded the USS Proyon and departed for O’ahu, Hawaii.
Arriving after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Cash was assigned to Patrol Squadron 11 (VP-11) where he and his squadron mates assisted in security duties following the attack. By 1942, Cash and the rest of VP-11 were transferred to the South Pacific to assist operations during the Guadalcanal Campaign.
As part of VP-11, Cash would fly the fabled “Black Cat” missions as well as conducting “Dumbo” missions to rescue aviators and seamen in distress at sea. Lt. Cdr. Barber’s story illustrates the significance of the PBY Catalina during WWII, demonstrating why it is so important to restore and display this historic aircraft here at Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
As we approached the entrance to the channel at Pearl Harbor, we saw the damage from the December 7th attack. At Ford Island, our small air strip and base for our seaplanes, the aircraft hangars had been bombed and all the PBYs and other aircraft parked there were damaged or destroyed. The sight of all that damage is something that one can never forget.
Lieutenant Commander Clyde Cassius “Cash” Barber
WWII veteran and PBY flight engineer
Supporters who make a contribution of $250 or more toward this vital restoration project will have their name recorded and honored in our PBY Maintenance and Restoration Record for all time that we will post on our PBY Catalina website page after we restore the plane. In addition, those who contribute $100 or more will receive a limited-edition PBY reusable tote bag.
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PBY Catalina
Give to help us restore our WWII-era PBY Catalina.
- Questions
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your gift is tax deductible within the guidelines of U.S. law. To claim a donation as a deduction on your U.S. taxes, please keep your donation receipt as your official record. If you’ve made a donation online, we'll email your receipt upon successful completion of your donation.
Our official tax ID is: Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Federal Tax ID # 99-0337979.
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To make a donation in honor or in memory of someone via check, please include this in the memo portion of the check.
If you would like to make a donation via check, please mail it to:
Attn: Development Department
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
319 Lexington Boulevard
Honolulu, HI 96818
