9767 History

BUILT BY:
Boeing of Canada, Vancouver, BC.
TYPE:
PBY-5A Catalina /Canso A (Canadian-built Catalina)
MODEL:
28-5ACF Construction #: 21996
SERVICE SERIAL #:
RCAF 9767 (military)
DELIVERED:
Delivered: RCAF March 4, 1943
ALLOCATED:
162 Squadron – Reykjavik – March 1943 – Pilot F/O Tom C. Cooke
SQUADRON IDENTIFICATION:
Aircraft “S” – Photo Reconnaissance | U-Boat Hunter
COMBAT HISTORY:
Sank U-Boat VIIC #U-342 Southwest off Iceland – April 17, 1944 (60-23 N, 29-20 W)
U-BOAT HISTORY:
Maiden Voyage – Commanded by Oblt. Albert Hossenfelder (54 souls lost)
STRICKEN (RCAF):
RCAF April 1, 1946 (removed from military service)
CIVILIAN REGISTRATION:
CF-CRR | C-FCRR | N9767
AIRFRAME SERVICE HISTORY:
RCAF | Reconnaissance | Transport | Firefighter | Film Studio | Passenger Flights | Veteran Recognition
CURRENT AIRCRAFT NAME:
Princess of the Stars (formerly Princesse des Etoiles)
PBY 9767 MILITARY SERVICE: COMBAT REPORT – January 24, 1944
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1946 – 1960
Acquired:
Canadian Pacific Airlines – April 1, 1946
Registration:
CF-CRR
Fleet Number:
“233” and “933”
Military Equipment Removed:
Short nose, armament, and camouflage paint.
CPA Livery:
Red, Blue, and Silver.
Service Use:
Freight and passenger transport.
Damage Report:
April 23, 1959 – Nose wheel retracted landing – Torrance, BC.
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1960 – 1968
Acquired:
Northland Airlines Ltd – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Canada
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1969 – 1970
Acquired:
Midwest Airlines Ltd. – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Canada
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1973 – Unknown
Acquired:
Ilford Riverton Airways – Winnipeg, Manitoba – Canada
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1977 – 1979
Acquired:
Avalon Aviation Ltd. – Red Deer, Alberta – Canada
Registration:
C-FCRR
Fleet Number:
Hull Code Tanker “1”
AAL Livery:
Orange, White, and Gray.
Service Use:
Fire-Fighting Operations – Water Bomber.
Damage Report:
May 27, 1978 – Aircraft stall on water during training. Water scoop retracted improperly allowing too much water aboard causing the aircraft to stall on liftoff. Starboard wing impacted water and was partially torn off. Aircraft water-looped and began taking on water. Aircraft beached to prevent sinking. Destroyed wing replaced with complete wartime component wing including original RCAF roundels. – Sylvan Lake, Red Deer, Alberta – Canada
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1979 – 1988
Acquired:
Avalon Aviation – Parry Sound, Ontario, Alberta – Canada
Registration:
C-FCRR
Fleet Number:
Hull Code Tanker “791”
AAL Livery:
Orange, White, and Gray.
Service Use:
Fire-Fighting Operations – Water Bomber.
Damage Report:
May 30, 1981 – Left nose wheel door torn off, aircraft nose sank – Complex Lake, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Aircraft salvaged and returned to flight.
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1988-1992
Retired:
February 28, 1988 – Storage – Avalon Aviation – Parry Sound, Ontario, Alberta – Canada
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1992-1994
Retired:
From 1992-1994 several attempts were made by organizations trying to preserve the wartime history of RCAF 9767. Unfortunately, all attempts failed.
CIVILIAN SERVICE:
1994-1995
Aquired:
Powell Corporation, Parry Sound, Ontario, Alberta – Canada (owned by Canadian Air Legend)