The OA-10 is the U.S. Army Air Force version of the PBY series seaplanes and amphibians flown extensively by the Navy during WW II. It is a twin-engine, parasol-mounted monoplane equipped with a flying boat hull, retractable tricycle landing gear and retractable wing-tip floats. The OA-10 was used primarily for air-sea rescue work ("DUMBO" missions) with the AAF's Emergency Rescue Squadrons throughout WW II and for several years thereafter. During the war, OA-10 crews rescued hundreds of downed fliers.

The prototype Catalina first flew on March 28, 1935. It was produced by Consolidated Aircraft Corp. in both seaplane and amphibian versions. Catalina’s also known as  "Cat" were also produced by Canadian Vickers, Ltd. and the Naval Aircraft Factory. Eventually, nearly 2,500 Catalina derivatives were built for the Navy. Just before Pearl Harbor the U.S. Army acquired the first of 56 PBY-5As (Patrol Bomber Consolidated - 5th series - Amphibian) from the U.S. Navy as OA-10s (Observation Amphibian - 10th aircraft type).

In 1945 the Army purchased 75 of the improved PBY-6As built by Consolidated as OA-10Bs. At the end of 1948 the new U.S. Air Force changed OA-10A to A-10A. Soon these became SA-10As (Search Amphibian), when the USAF reserved the A for Attack aircraft. The AAF/USAF eventually purchased 380, the survivors served in search and rescue work until replaced by the Grumman SA-16 "Albatross" in the mid 1950s.

• TYPE: Search and Rescue (Amphibian)

• POWER: Two Pratt & Whitney R-183-92 Twin Wasp with 1,200 hp

• SPEED: Maximum 175 mph; Cruising 113 mph  

• RANGE : 3,100 mi

• SERVICE CEILING: 13,000 ft

• WEIGHTS: Empty:  20,910 lbs; Maximum:  35,420 lbs 

• ARMAMENT: Provisions for Two .50-cal. machine guns in the waist and two .30-cal. machine guns--one in the bow and another in a rear tunnel--plus 8,000 lbs. of bombs
  

• DIMENSIONS:  Span: 104 ft.; Length: 63 ft. 10 in.; Height: 20 ft. 1 in.

• CREW: Nine;  Pilot, Co-Pilot, Navigator, Radio Operator, Bombardier/ Gunner and Tail gunner pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio/radar operator, flight engineer, bombardier/gunner, 3 gunners

• PRODUCTION TOTALS: (USAAF/USAF) : 58 (OA-10/ BY-5A, Navy transferred ); 252( OA-10A/PBY-5A Canadian Vickers PBV-5A); 75 OA-10B (OA-10B/PBY-6A, Navy transferred) 

• UNIT COST : $50,000

• McCHORD BASED UNIT:

During November and December of 1988, Two trucks from Kansas and one from Canada to brought the McChord Air Museums SA-10A Catalina to its new home in Washington State.  Purchased from a private collector the Cat is currently under restoration, when finished she will be painted to represent OA-10A  44-34033 when it was based at McChord Force Base in the late 40's.

Completed by Consolidated Aircraft Corp for the US Navy (S/N 33993) 

Loaned to McChord Air Museum, McChord AFB, WA  for restoration display (as 43-4033).  

(United States Air Force Museum Program)