Catalina arrives in Darwin . . .
Good to see another of these magnificant aircraft gracing our shores . . . they have a significant connection with this country. Another one is located at the RAAF Museum in Bull Creek WA.
WWII flying boat arrives in Darwin
A flying relic of WWII and a reminder of the sacrifice Australian airmen made to defend the nation from the Japanese has flown into Darwin.
About 170 Catalinas went behind enemy lines during the war to lay mines, undertake bombing runs and do reconnaissance against the Japanese.
Most of them were based in northern Australia and more than 300 airmen were killed flying them.
The Catalina that's flown into Darwin today wasn't used to defend Australia, but was found in Portugal and lovingly restored by a group of enthusiasts and the Sydney based Catalina Flying Memorial.
It uses 400 litres of fuel every hour in-flight and has cost more than $350,000 to restore and bring from Europe to Australia.
The Catalina flies to Cairns next and will travel down the east coast until it reaches a museum in Rathmines in New South Wales.
It's now the second operational Catalina in Australia, but the only one that can operate from the land and the water.
The wrecks of six Catalinas used to defend Australia are in Darwin Harbour.