Help Restore the PBY Catalina
The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is entering a bold new chapter. One of our most iconic World War II aircraft, the Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, is now at the Air Zoo in Michigan preparing for extensive restoration. This is no ordinary project. It will take thousands of hours, deep expertise, and significant resources to return this historic aircraft to its former glory.
The Aircraft That Could Have Changed History
Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor succeeded in part because of its carrier-based aviation advantage. Before striking our battleships, they targeted the one aircraft that could have impeded them: the PBY Catalina. With its unmatched range, the PBY could have detected the Japanese fleet 200 miles north of Oahu, potentially altering the course of history.
The first bombs that morning didn’t fall on ships. They fell on the PBY bases at Ford Island and Kaneohe Bay. Hangar 6 was leveled, fires raged, and many PBYs were destroyed. As former PBY commander Cash Barber recalled, “When they hit the hangars first, it told us everything. They weren’t just attacking ships—they were silencing the aircraft that could stop them.”
Why the PBY Matters Today
The PBY is more than a historic aircraft; it is central to what sets Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum apart from over 600 aviation museums nationwide. In the Pacific, the war was fought across vast oceans and skies. Victory depended on long-range aircraft like the Catalina, whose crews scouted, patrolled, and defended across immense distances. To restore the PBY is to preserve the very story of how the Pacific War was fought and won.
A Catalina with a Story of Its Own
The PBY-5A Catalina — Bureau Number 46602 — being restored for the Museum has a remarkable history. During the war, it flew anti-submarine patrols with VPB-45 in Brazil. After the war, it served with VP-AM-5 at NAS Whidbey Island in Washington and Adak, Alaska, before continuing in training and amphibious patrol squadrons.
Now, thanks to the generosity of many—including a loan from our friend CAPT Sterling Gilliam, USN (Ret.), Director of the National Naval Aviation Museum—we have secured the funds to transport this Catalina to the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo. The focus now turns fully to its restoration. When the work is complete, the aircraft will return to Pearl Harbor, just steps away from where history was forever changed.
This is more than a restoration. It is a mission of honor. By bringing the PBY back to life, we honor the men who flew it, we preserve a story of resilience and sacrifice, and we ensure future generations understand what was at stake in the Pacific.
Will you make a special gift today to help us
restore the PBY-5A Catalina and ensure its story is never forgotten?
donate to RESTORE
PBY Catalina
Give to help us restore our WWII-era PBY Catalina.
Thank you to our generous donors
Anonymous (3)
John Allen
Kenneth Andersen
Michael Ariano
Timothy Baier
LCDR Clyde “Cash” Barber, USN (Ret.)
Douglas Beijer
Peter and Kim Benson
Michael and Carol Ann Birosak
Richard Bjerke
John Bolthouse
Edward and Nancy Bosco Jr.
James Bramsen
Sgt Frederic Brossy Jr.
Dr. John Bukry
C.M. and Lorraine Burchfiel
Daniel Calpo
Hardy Carl
Michael and Mary Cayley Sr.
Chuck and Shari Cotton
Steven Covey
Pam Cozby
Michael and Bonny Crawley
Frederick Dauer
Thomas Daye
CAPT Robert Deal, USN (Ret.) and CAPT Carolyn Deal, USN (Ret.)
Dr. Claire Deal
CDR and Mrs. Darren Denyer
Bruce Devenney
James Gendron
Michael and Ying-Chao Boutte
Kenneth Doolittle Sr.
Gary and Jodi Duggins
John Dunn
LTC Sofronio Estores
Mary Jo Fannin
CDR and Mrs. Charles Federico, USN (Ret.)
Ronald FitzGerald and Maki Eto
William and Sharon Flanders
Fred and Rose Marie Fleischmann
Dudley and Nicki Foster
Alfred Gilbert
Robert Glanville
Chris Graham
David Grant
Jason and Amanda Greenwald
Dr. and Mrs. Floyd Hansen
Dr. Daniel Harrah
Dr. and Mrs. Richard Ikehara
Terry Daily and Linda Jackson Daily
Charles and Susan Johnson
Joel Johnson
Gregory and Deborah Jurek
Chris Keelan
Marilyn Kelly
CDR and Mrs. Edward Keough, USN (Ret.)
Larry and Mellissa Lamerson
Christopher and Paula Le Blanc
Judy Lewis
Juergen Lippmann
Michael and Penelope Edwards
Roy Magnuson
James Martindale
Mark and Cathy Maurer
Joseph McCoy
Tom and Jan McGurk Jr.
Dan and Teri McNamara
Randol and Gloria Meeds
William “Sonny” and Isabelle Miller
Harry Nakayama
CAPT and Mrs. Robert Nisbet, USN (Ret.)
George Norcross
David Nunes
Janice Okami
Brian O’Mara
Brig Gen and Mrs. Stanley Osserman, HIANG
Christopher Ostrowski
Roy Owens
CAPT Donn Parent, USN (Ret.)
Capt David Potter
Dr. Mitchell Pratte
GM1 Matthew Quave
CAPT and Mrs. Carl Reed, USN (Ret.)
Aniceto and Susan Rivera
Phillip and Elinor Ronish
Charles and Mary Jane Roskosz
Don Schiemann
William SchultzCAPT Thomas Scott Jr., USN (Ret.)
Beatrice Lemke-Newman
Maj Maureen and Capt Richard Seidenstein
CDR Lee Shafer, (Ret.)
Virginia Smith Alexander
Emmett Stobbs
Robert Paul Strittmatter
Malcolm Tabor
Stephen and Diane Talutis
CDR and Mrs. Thomas Thetford, USN (Ret.)
Capt Robert Thorson
William Tobin
John Van Weeren
Neal Wakabayashi
Matthew Webb
Dr. and Mrs. David Wells
Ysbrand van der Werf
Elaine “Chipper” Whalan
Gary Wilk
Alton Wong
CDR James Woomer, USN
CAPT James Zazas
LTC and Mrs. Richard Zegar, USMC (Ret.)
Grace & Richard Okita Foundation
Jean & Maury Myers Family Foundation
Mark and Lori Admiral Charitable Foundation
The J&D Giving Fund
Robert and Michelle Hatfield
Rainer and Lisa Kumbroch