Seaplanes Go To War
Early in World War II, PBY Catalinas and PBM Mariners—the PBM being a newer flying boat built to complement the PBY— were sent to Iceland, Newfoundland, Bermuda, and other bases as part of the Neutrality Patrol searching for German U-Boats. In May 1941, Lieutenant Leonard Smith was helping train Royal Air Force pilots in PBY operations, when he took part in a mission that led to the sinking of the German battleship Bismarck. The seaplanes escorted the Marine contingent to Iceland in July of the same year. 1 Seaplanes were also in the Pacific when hostilities commenced. Part of the reason...
Source: usni.org