Catalina

We were lucky to see this Catalina a wartime flying boat, Miss Pickup, fly by this afternoon. It was part of ‘Operation Shetland 2024’ to commemorate two Victoria Crosses awarded to Catalina pilots in 1944. The plane flew from Inverness over Alness where Catalinas were based in WW2. If the base was full some would be moored off the harbour in Fortrose.
Amazingly one of the men, Flight Lieutenant John Cruickshank who received the honour aged 24 is still going strong now aged 104. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4ngvne7xlvo. He was delighted that the Catalina flew over his house in Aberdeen.
One board the flight from Inverness were to members of the Lifeboat Crew from Lochness.
Back in October 2020 the flying boat was stranded in Lochness for 6 weeks after suffering engine trouble when trying to take off. The engine had to be changed which was complex but easier when on shore. October is one of our windiest months especially around Lochness so they had to wait for a break in the weather to get her back up in the air. The first time since 1945 that a military flying boat has taken off from the Loch.
Luckily she is in full working order now, the last remaining flying Catalina.