A repaint for the Aerosoft PBY-5 Catalina in the colors of PBY-5 (Bu08450) NZ4012 XX-N 'The Naughty Nine" of the RNZAF, as it looked while flying with FltLt Guy Rogers and crew from the Solomon Islands in 1945 with 6 Flying Boat Squadron. Following Japan's entry into the war in December 1941, the RNZAF had to switch from primarily training pilots to Europe into a combat force. No. 6 Squadron RNZAF was formed as an army co-operation unit at Milson in February 1942 flying Vickers Vildebeest and Hawker Hind aircraft. At the same time, No. 5 Squadron RNZAF moved to Fiji with Short Singapores and Vickers Vildebeest and Vincent biplanes. Modern maritime patrol flying boats (and more Hudson light bombers) were requested under Lend Lease and when the first Consolidated Catalinas arrived a detachment of men from No. 5 Squadron was assigned to convert to these types as No. 6 Squadron. Before the squadron was officially formed these men successfully completed their first air-sea rescue of a downed US aircrew. From May 1943 No. 6 squadron undertook action against the Japanese. The Squadron also conducted search and rescue missions for allied aircrew and seamen, and undertook many open sea rescues. XX-N arrived in Fiji on 20 june 1943. It was declared surplus to requirements in 1951, and was broken up in Hobsonville in 1952.
Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the paintkit by Aerosoft.
Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the paintkit by Aerosoft.
