Black Cat base of VP-50 at Los Negros. Jet-black aircraft contrast with white sand. This
is a late-war type of base, with more advanced facilities than was usually found at the
more primitive mid-war island bases. (U.S. Navy)
(Source: "Black Cat Raiders of WWII" by
Richard C. Knott)
Seaplane tender USS Tangier. When island bases were not available, ships like these
provided a mobile home for PBYs in the Pacific, where they could re-fuel and repair the
big Cats. Note the large crane on the stern for bringing the PBYs on board. The USS
Tangier was the first US ship to fire on the Japanese at Pearl Harbor.
(Source: "Bless 'Em All" by Robert Hayes)
A VP-33 Black Cat being hoisted aboard the tender for repairs. (George Favorite
collection)
(Source: "Black Cat Raiders of WWII" by
Richard C. Knott)
Another view of a battle-damaged PBY being hoisted up on board the U.S.S. Tangier.
(E.M. Fischer collection)
(Source: "Black Cats With Wings of Gold" by
Lt. A. J. Meuller (Ret))
A VP-91 Cat refuels from the tender Mackinac at Vanikoro Island in the Santa Cruz group,
October 1942. (Captain D. Walkinshaw collection)
(Source: "Black Cat Raiders of WWII" by
Richard C. Knott)
A VP-33 Cat makes its buoy. This PBY has the late-war twin-gun eyeball turret in the bow.
(George Favorite collection)
(Source: "Black Cat Raiders of WWII" by
Richard C. Knott)
The VP-54 base camp during a rare dry spell (seas of mud were more common). Note the steel
perforated planks for walkways. Living conditions were primitive on island bases like
these.
(Captain C. Schoenweiss collection)
(Source: "Black Cat Raiders of WWII" by
Richard C. Knott)
On arrival at Guadalcanal's Henderson Field in March 1943, VP-54 was greeted by a Japanese
air attack. Crater from a near-miss is in the foreground. VP-54 Cats and the Henderson
Field tower are visible in the background. (W.C. Lemly via E. Leiser)
(Source: "PBY Catalina in Action" by
Squadron/Signal Publications)
Motoyama No. 1 airfield on Iwo Jima in March 1945. A Black Cat from an unknown
squadron stands ready for Dumbo duty for the B-29's that were damaged and couldn't make it
back to Iwo. 20th Air Force B-29's are in the background.
(from the archives of the San Diego Aerospace Museum)
NEW! - 
Morning muster for a Black Cat squadron, at what looks to be a fairly advanced base
facility.
(this image is from the Dictionary of American
Naval Aviation Squadrons - Vol. 2)
NEW! - 
Men of VPB-34 take a break from the hot tropical sun under the thankfully large wing of
their PBY while two other Black Cats sit in the distance.
(this image is from the Dictionary of American
Naval Aviation Squadrons - Vol. 2)
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