USA: Warplanes of the Second World War preserved: Consolidated PB2Y-5R Coronado

Consolidated PB2Y-5R Coronado

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in the USA.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in the United States of America would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB2Y-2 Coronado of patrol squadron VP-13 (, coded 13-P-1, (BuNo. 1633) November 1940. This aircraft is painted in the colourful pre-war scheme.

The Consolidated PB2Y Coronado is a large flying boat patrol bomber designed by Consolidated Aircraft, and used by the US Navy during World War II in bombing, antisubmarine, medical/hospital plane, and transport roles. Obsolete by the end of the war, Coronados were quickly taken out of service. Only one known example remains, at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

Before the Second World War, large flying boats were important for long distance international routes, as the ability to land on water without a land-based airstrip was useful. It proved to be good supporting aircraft in the Pacific War, which often required transport across long distance of oceans in harm's way, to places with no prepared airstrips.There were two main configurations, one with several turrets including a prominent ball turret in the nose with two 50-cal machine guns, and one unarmed, with a clean nose.

(USN Photo)

The aircraft had a unique place in history, bringing Admiral Nimitz to Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Japanese surrender at the end of the Second World War.

The main operator was the United States Navy, and some served with United Kingdom Royal Air Force. 5 served with United States Coast Guard. After the war there was some civilian use also. After the end of the war, one was used by Hughes Aviation. Of the aircraft one survived the war to be exhibited in the National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, Floriada. (Wikipedia)

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado, c1942.

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB2Y-5R Coronado (BuNo 7241). This aircraft crashed on 6 December 1944 at Kanton Island in Phoenix Islands (modern day Kiribati).

(USN Photo)

Convair PB2Y-5 (BuNo. 7045) At NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, 5 September 1945.

(USN Photo)

Convair PB2Y-5 (BuNo. 7045) At NAS Patuxent River, Maryland, 5 September 1945.

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado over the Pacific Ocean, 1944.

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB2Y-3 Coronado assigned to Patrol Bombing Squadron VPB-1 at Naval Auxiliary Air Facility Galapagos on Seymour Island, from which the squadron flew missions patroling the Pacific approaches to the Panama Canal, c1945.

(IWM Photo, CH 15944)

Consolidated Coronado Mk. I "Beaumaris" of No. 231 Squadron RAF based at Dorval, Quebec, Canada, undergoes a major inspection at the Marine Base, Bermuda.

(RAF Photo)

Consolidated Coronado Mk. I, No. 231 Squadron RAF.

(IWM Photo, MH2768)

Consolidated Coronado GR Mk. I (modified), JX495, at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire. This aircraft subsequently served as a long-range transport with No. 231 Squadron RAF. 1944.

(NMNA Photo)

Consolidated PB2Y-5R Coronado owned by Hughes Aircraft, probably late 1940s. This aircraft, (BuNo 7099), is now undergoing restoration at the U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida (USA). It was delivered to the U.S. Navy on 12 April 1943 and was outfitted as a flag transport. It shuttled high-ranking officers back and forth between Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast. In August 1945 it transported Rear Admiral Forrest P. Sherman (Deputy CINCPAC) to Tokyo Bay to attend the formal surrender ceremonies ending the Second World War. In the following months it was ordered to China to support the occupation of that nation. It was damaged in a Hurricane and flown back to the United States in November 1945. When ist was stricken from the Navy inventory in August 1946 it was bought by Howard Hughes. It was kept in flying condition until the early 1960s and donated to the National Museum of Naval Aviation in 1977.

(Rob Bixby Photos)

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado preserved in the National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, Florida. This Coronado delivered Nimitz to Tokyo for the signing of the Japanese surrender on VJ Day.

‍Consolidated PB2Y-5R Coronado