Consolidated PB2Y Coronado

PB2Y Coronado
An early PB2Y-2 in flight.
General information
Type	Maritime patrol bomber
Manufacturer	Consolidated Aircraft
Status	Retired
Primary users	United States Navy Royal Air Force
Number built	217
History
Introduction date	December 1940
First flight	17 December 1937
Variants	Consolidated XPB3Y

The PB2Y Coronado is a large flying boat patrol bomber designed by Consolidated Aircraft, and used by the US Navy during World War II in bombing, antisubmarine, medical/hospital plane, and transport roles. Obsolete by the end of the war, Coronados were quickly taken out of service. Only one known example remains, at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Before WW2 large flying boats were important for long distance international routes, as the ability to land on water without a land-based airstrip was useful. It proved to be good supporting aircraft in the Pacific War, which often required transport across long distance of oceans in harm's way, to places with no prepared airstrips.

There were two main configurations, one with several turrets including a prominent ball turret in the nose with two 50-cal machine guns, and one unarmed, with a clean nose.

The aircraft had a unique place in history, bringing Admiral Nimitz to Tokyo Bay for the signing of the Japanese surrender for WW2. Also, after the war one was used by Hughes Aviation.