Consolidated PB2Y Coronado

Being American, this was the fattest plane of all time and was repeatedly told to go on a diet.

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After surviving the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands as an Aviation Chief Ordnanceman's Mate on the Hornet CV-8, my Dad, James Donald "Pug" March, jumped at the opportunity to train as bombardier. Apparently he crewed with a PB2Y Squadron for the rest of the war.
A few years ago I found a photo album with pics from WWII showing Him and Stan Mahoney (PB2Y pilot) and a few of his squadron mates, exploring buildings, small Japanese locomotives, wrecked vehicles, ruins, jungles, and sharing beers in what must have been a canteen on one of the re-captured islands. He and Stan kept in touch for years, and Stan sent us a copy of his self-published autobiography "I'm in Aviation NOW!"
I don't know the names of any of the other Squadron personnel, just that at the beginning they flew overnight missions to attack IJM vessels that had been spotted in various anchorages around the Pacific, timing their arrival to catch the ships at first light. My dad also mentioned the crews used CARNUBA wax on the planes to reduce drag, and this reduced fuel consumption and gave them greater range.

I would be glad to send digital copies of photos I've scanned

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Greetings to all the PB2Y community!
My Dad â€" James Donald "Pug" March â€" jumped at the opportunity to train as bombardier after surviving the Battle of Santa Cruz Islands as an Aviation Chief Ordnanceman's Mate on the Hornet CV-8. He had been assigned to the Hornet in spring of 1941, so he helped arm the bombers for launching the Doolittle raid, and was with the ship until she was sunk by U.S. Navy gunfire to prevent her capture by the IJN.
He was one of only FIVE Hornet crew who survived to receive their medals, of her 35 sailors, officers and pilots awarded the Navy Cross for their actions in those two days of combat. I only learned all that a decade after he died at 81 years of age. He had retired as Commander after 29 years.

A few years ago I found a photo album with pics from WWII showing Him and Stan Mahoney (PB2Y pilot) and a few of his squadron mates, exploring buildings, small Japanese locomotives, wrecked vehicles, ruins, jungles, and sharing beers in what must have been a canteen on one of the re-captured islands. He and Stan kept in touch for years, and Stan sent us a copy of his self-published autobiography "I'm in Aviation NOW!"
I don't know the names of any of the other Squadron personnel, just that at the beginning they flew overnight missions to attack IJM vessels that had been spotted in various anchorages around the Pacific, timing their arrival to catch the ships at first light. My dad also mentioned the crews used CARNUBA wax on the planes to reduce drag, and this reduced fuel consumption and gave them greater range.

I would be glad to send digital copies of photos I've scanned.

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Does anyone remember a pilot at Alameda during the first part of the war by the name of DJ Hostetter? He flew a PB2Y-2 (rear admiral's standby barge) before that a B-25 I believe). I'm also trying to find out how many of that model were made and who the possible rear admirals. None of that part of his record still exists so I cant access any of his flight history.

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The Coronado was intended to succeed the Catalina as the US Navy's patrol bomber. If WW-II had not started that is probably what would have happened. However, the Coronado was much larger, more complex and more expensive. The Catalina could do the same job and was cheaper and could be manufactured faster and in much larger numbers. Apart from that, the new Martin Mariner was becoming available as well, which was a twin-engine flying boat that could do everything that the Coronado could do. In addition, Consolidated was building PB4Y patrol bombers for the Navy, which were "navalized" versions of the B-24 Liberator. There simply wasn't enough need for the Coronado, and most of those that were built ended up being converted for use as cargo planes.

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Searching for information about a PB2Y crash in the South Pacific on March 16, 1942. A news article appeared in the Oakland Tribune newspaper on May 19, 1942 ("Piedmont Pilot Air Battle Hero")that as a navy machinist Jack Himes (21 age) took over the controls and crash landed into the sea after trying to destroy a Japanese cruiser. Himes and four others of the crew of eleven escaped with their lives. Does anyone have any information of this crash accident. If so, Please contact me - Richard Gross (rg12207va@gmail.com)

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My dad flew the PB2Y during the war. The raid on Truk Island in the Pacific was the most terrifying raid he said he ever did. He told me he was blessed that he had terrific gunners. He loved that aircraft, though he said he didn't have the best maneuverability it was a great plane.

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My father was Richard Weir. I believe he was in VP102 during the war. I have photos of him standing on top of a Coronado near the top turret. He was a Radioman but said on long missions everyone got a chance at the controls. He described missions that sounded a lot like the Wake Island raids. Dick went to work for Convair after the war, and later Lockheed. He passed in 2012. Anybody remember him? Please contact by e-mail - trjnsd@yahoo.com

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My grandfather, Jack Hislop, flew a plane called the Blue Goose. I was wondering if anyone had additional information on any of the crew members or knew their whereabouts? He passed away many years ago and we don't have a tremendous amount of information.

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I am restoring an original Doering Bros PB2Y and need pictures of the rear Gunners post from the exterior....anybody have any pics?

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Chuck Nelson was able to contact me via my prior entry on this site. He called me yesterday, 25FEB15, and told me that he was the co pilot to my dad, Cmdr Roger A Wolf of VP-13 flying out of the Pacific in WW2. What a pleasant surprise that we were united after all these years. I was truly honored to speak with Chuck. I'm sure we will have many more war stories to share.

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I was a pilot in VPB 13; co-pilot for Roger Wolf and I'd like to get in touch with his son listed above in comments.
Can you get us connected?
Thanks,
Chuck Nelson

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