Best flying boat/amphibian of WWII?

[Lucky13]

Was the PBY Catalina the overall best of the lot or? What's your opinion?
I think that it certainly was one of the best in the whole conflict looking at their "Dumbo" and "Black Cat" missions....

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I have to go with the venerable Dornier Do 24. She outperformed the venerable Cat (which also was a great aircraft by the way!).

To me she is also the most beautiful sea plane.

[Lucky13]

I agree Adler, the Do-24 is second only to "my" Cat....can't but love the Dornier....any idea how many there still in existence today?

[Lucky13]

[ccheese]

Germany and Japan both had quite a few seaplanes, during the war, each
[almost] with a different mission. Britain had some, too, most in a ASW
role. Martin and Consolidated pretty well had the US seaplanes nailed down.
Most of Martin's seaplanes were in a Patrol, Passenger/Cargo or ASW role.
The Consolidated "Coronado" was a monster, pretty much in the passenger/cargo role, also.
The PBY did everything !

Dive bomber, torpedo bomber, rescue, ASW, you name it. It's hard not to
pick the PBY...

Charles

[ToughOmbre]

Dive bomber, torpedo bomber, rescue, ASW, you name it. It's hard not to
pick the PBY...

Charles

Agree all the way Charles!

TO

[Juha]

Even if Do 24 is one of my favorites, IMHO H8K Emily was the best flying boat of WWII,

Juha

[merlin]

Sorry to disagree, but to my mind the best has to be the Japanese Kawanishi H8K1-H8K4 (Emily).
It being the fastest, with the best hydrodynamics of any of the combatants, well protected, and well defended.
Who comes next? Take your pick from, Catalina, Dornier 24, and Sunderland.

[freebird]

Hey did anyone see my pic from the Museum thread?

I was amazed when I saw this flying boat was made in {1968 -oops}!

Oops, my bad wrong era....

[ToughOmbre]

Built in 1917?

No way!

TO

[hunter0f2]

The Sunderland had firepower& staying power. It could also absorba load of punishment.
In one incident , over the Bay of Biscay, a Sunderland was attacked by 7 Me 110 . It shot down 5 of them & sent the other 2 , home smoking.
3 Sunderland crew were killed, but it returned to base, somewhat in tatters.

[merlin]

Built in 1917?

No way!

TO

Yes & no!

The answer is that the photo, is not the aircraft in the written details! Note the engine h.p. whilst that of the photo looks like a turbo-prop of at least 3,000 hp.

[freebird]

Built in 1917?

No way!

TO

I was scratching my head too TO, it says "first flight July 25 '16, in service 1917 & 1918.

I looked up on the 'net, didn't find any info {probably only in Russain}

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The thing about the Do-24 is that it could perform any mission (and did perform) the Catalina could, but could do it with better performance, more pay load, etc.

It was a better aircraft overall.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I agree Adler, the Do-24 is second only to "my" Cat....can't but love the Dornier....any idea how many there still in existence today?

There are quite a few of them in museums around the world today including two here in Germany I believe. There is however only one flying example that I know of.