Corgi AA36104 1:72 Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina Black Cat White 69 William Pfleeger USN VP-34 New Guinea 1944

A striking and highly collectable 1:72 scale diecast representation of Consolidated PBY Catalina “Black Cat” White 69, associated with Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger of United States Navy Patrol Squadron VP-34 during operations around New Guinea in 1944. Released as part of the Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series, AA36104 recreates one of the distinctive black-painted Catalinas used for night operations across the Pacific and was limited to 2,310 pieces worldwide.

VP-34 was one of the United States Navy patrol squadrons which became known as the “Black Cats” during the Second World War. The nickname originated from the flat-black finish applied to their Catalinas and the nocturnal missions which became a speciality of these aircraft and their crews.

The squadron deployed to Samarai, off the eastern tip of New Guinea, during December 1943 and operated throughout the region during 1944. Black Cat crews undertook demanding long-range night sorties against Japanese shipping, barges, shore installations and other targets while also carrying out reconnaissance and air-sea rescue duties.

White 69 is associated with Lieutenant (jg) William Pfleeger and carries the almost entirely black finish characteristic of these night-fighting Catalinas. The restrained camouflage dramatically contrasts with the white US national insignia and tactical markings, producing one of the most distinctive schemes applied to the famous PBY.

Pfleeger and his Catalina are also associated with a notable rescue during 1944, when three survivors were recovered from a B-24 Liberator which had ditched while returning from a raid against Truk. Such missions demonstrated the versatility of Catalina crews, who could transition between offensive strikes, reconnaissance and life-saving rescue operations.

Truk was one of Japan's most important naval bases in the Central Pacific and was frequently described by Allied personnel as the “Gibraltar of the Pacific”. Attacks against the base formed part of the continuing Allied effort to weaken Japanese naval and air power while advancing towards the Philippines and the Japanese home islands.

The Consolidated PBY Catalina first flew in 1935 and became one of the most successful maritime patrol aircraft of the Second World War. Its exceptional endurance, broad parasol wing and ability to operate from water made it particularly valuable across the enormous distances of the Pacific Theatre.

Catalinas undertook maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, night attack, transport and search-and-rescue operations. Their ability to remain airborne for extended periods and land close to survivors made them particularly effective in the air-sea rescue role, where many downed Allied airmen owed their lives to Catalina crews.

AA36104 is commonly catalogued by Corgi specialist references as a PBY-5A Catalina, although some surviving dealer catalogues identify the release as a PBY-5. This listing retains the PBY-5A designation most commonly associated with the Corgi release while noting the catalogue variation for collector accuracy.

This substantial Aviation Archive model features extensive diecast construction, the Catalina's enormous high-mounted wing, detailed observation blisters, cockpit glazing, rotating propellers and finely reproduced surface detailing. Its dramatic Black Cat finish, White 69 markings and low production run make AA36104 a particularly distinctive Pacific War release.

Fact Sheet

Dimensions

Model Condition - New/Mint (10/10)

• The model has not been displayed previously.
• The accessories remain sealed.
• The model comes complete.

Box condition - Excellent (8/10)

• The box is in excellent condition for its age, with some shelf wear present.

Photographed under studio lighting to highlight even the smallest imperfections. Buy with confidence, what you see is exactly what you get.

Any imperfections are shown in the images and description. Refer to the grading tab for more details. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.