PBY Catalena

My father, Cdr.
Theodore Hechler, Jr.
(USN Ret.). He
graduated from the US
Naval Accademy,
Annapolis, MD in 1940.
Later he got his wings
(I remember seeing a
pin like this one).
His unit was VPB-92,
a Patrol/Bombing Squad.

A PBY that either
crashed or was washed
ashore during a typhoon
on the island of Diego
Garcia in the Indian Ocean

From The Hagensieker's
Home Page at
http://www.urban.ne.jp/
home/jhagensi/hpage/pby.htm

"Known as Catalina, Canso and
Nomad, the PBY was one of the U.S.
Navy's most useful aircraft during
WWII, with more produced than any
other craft before or since....

"Approximately 3,300 PBY types were
produced during the war for various
services and Allies. At their peak
employment, the PBY's equipped 29
U.S. patrol squadrons."

"Naval Aircraft: Catalina."
Naval Aviation News. June 1972.