Warbird gone..

Another irreplaceable warbird gone.

CONSOLIDATED VULTEE PBY-6A Catalina, BuNo 64041 (c/n 0169)
civil registry N6458C, C-GFFI, now N85U
Registered to FLYING FIREMAN INC of SPANAWAY Wa
Flew as air tanker 85

retired and then restored, was being used in filming
a movie about the sinking of the USS Indianapolis
developed leaks and took on water, beached on the gulf
shore near the Florida-Alabama state line.
Nose wheel became stuck in the sand,
broke in two. while being recovered, with a crane, breaking near the
blisters. July 3 , 2015