Interview with Maurice McGreal on Catalinas and the Coral route
Maker and role
Radio New Zealand, Other contributor
Don Carson, Interviewer
Maurice E. McGreal, Interviewee
Production date
22 Jan 1994
See full details
Object detail
Accession number
05-792
Description
Abstract of a Radio New Zealand programme
File 1 (side 1)
00.00” Perry Como song, ‘Fly Me to the Moon’
Introduction: Maurice McGreal, pilot on Coral Route. Mentions [PBY Consolidated] Catalina flying boat recently sank en route to New Zealand.
03.51” Started flying in late 1930s at Auckland Aero Club. Into air force at beginning of Second World War. To Britain in 1940; returned to New Zealand 1945. Flew with Royal Air Force 75 Squadron, flew [PBY Consolidated] Catalinas in RNZAF 490 Squadron in Africa until war ended. Gives opinion of flying old aircraft.
05.22” Thinks some people would enjoy flying on flying boats. Not comfortable aircraft. Explains how got in and out of Catalina flying boat. Describes pilot’s seat. Compares with submarine. Escape hatches led out into propellers.
07.06” Announcer explains that Catalina en route to New Zealand went into sea after one of engines failed, and sank. Explains that fully-laden Catalina does not fly easily on one engine. Gives example from time when based in Africa (490 Squadron). Had to throw everything out of aircraft and flew about 100 feet above sea. Landing flying boat at night is difficult. Explains how this is done. Explains how might do it if only had one engine. Thinks that with recent sinking was a metre of swell. Effect of this height of swell. Bouncing on top of waves.
09.22” Explains that ditched [Short] Sunderland in Atlantic Ocean near Cape Verde islands in July 1944. Explains how this happened – fully laden with depth charges and 12 hours of fuel. Landed but was big swell. Describes landing. Two men lost lives. Explains that pilot had no control over fuel in Sunderland flying boats. Fuel was controlled by engineer.
11.50” Length of time it took for Sunderland to sink. Recalls being rescued – length of time before were found and taken back to base in Africa. Length of time before could build new crew and fly again.
12.35” Some Catalina flying boats have wheels – amphibious versions were called Canso. Describes where wheels are mounted. Weight of wheels and associated hydraulic gear limited range of Canso. Explains why flying boats were kept out of water as much as possible.
13.55” Explains how floats are retracted on Catalinas. Explains reason for upward tips on modern passenger aircraft. Mentions that Catalina floats had similar effect.
14.41” Thinks there is still one Catalina being operated, in Egypt. Explains difference between seaplane and flying boats. Explains why flying boats are no longer used for passenger transport. Explains that is ‘water bomber’ flying boat currently manufactured in Canada. Reason it is not dangerous to scoop up water this way. Talks about large flying boat built for United States Navy towards end of Second World War – Martin Mars [?]. Size of Martin Mars. Used as water bomber.
17.28” Mentions Howard Hughes’s ‘Spruce Goose’. Russians still use flying boats. Contemporary role of flying boats.
18.25” Explains why TEAL’s ‘Coral Route’ was established. Mentions ZK-AMP – flew this aircraft with Captain [Cliff] Le Couteur with government specialists around Pacific in 1951 to check suitability of passenger route in Pacific. Flew to Laucala Bay in Fiji, then to Samoa. Mentions landing area at Satapuala in Samoa which had been used by Catalinas during Second World War. Reason area had to be surveyed for depth and width and length. Four weeks to do reconnaissance. Explains that designed raft so could measure landing area at Satapuala and survey where coral heads were located.
23.05” Explains how Cliff Le Couteur got rid of coral heads. Took four weeks to measure Satapuala landing area. Samoans watched because fish were killed when coral heads were bombed.
24.55” Interview ends. Short amount of music.
File 1 (side 1)
00.00” Perry Como song, ‘Fly Me to the Moon’
Introduction: Maurice McGreal, pilot on Coral Route. Mentions [PBY Consolidated] Catalina flying boat recently sank en route to New Zealand.
03.51” Started flying in late 1930s at Auckland Aero Club. Into air force at beginning of Second World War. To Britain in 1940; returned to New Zealand 1945. Flew with Royal Air Force 75 Squadron, flew [PBY Consolidated] Catalinas in RNZAF 490 Squadron in Africa until war ended. Gives opinion of flying old aircraft.
05.22” Thinks some people would enjoy flying on flying boats. Not comfortable aircraft. Explains how got in and out of Catalina flying boat. Describes pilot’s seat. Compares with submarine. Escape hatches led out into propellers.
07.06” Announcer explains that Catalina en route to New Zealand went into sea after one of engines failed, and sank. Explains that fully-laden Catalina does not fly easily on one engine. Gives example from time when based in Africa (490 Squadron). Had to throw everything out of aircraft and flew about 100 feet above sea. Landing flying boat at night is difficult. Explains how this is done. Explains how might do it if only had one engine. Thinks that with recent sinking was a metre of swell. Effect of this height of swell. Bouncing on top of waves.
09.22” Explains that ditched [Short] Sunderland in Atlantic Ocean near Cape Verde islands in July 1944. Explains how this happened – fully laden with depth charges and 12 hours of fuel. Landed but was big swell. Describes landing. Two men lost lives. Explains that pilot had no control over fuel in Sunderland flying boats. Fuel was controlled by engineer.
11.50” Length of time it took for Sunderland to sink. Recalls being rescued – length of time before were found and taken back to base in Africa. Length of time before could build new crew and fly again.
12.35” Some Catalina flying boats have wheels – amphibious versions were called Canso. Describes where wheels are mounted. Weight of wheels and associated hydraulic gear limited range of Canso. Explains why flying boats were kept out of water as much as possible.
13.55” Explains how floats are retracted on Catalinas. Explains reason for upward tips on modern passenger aircraft. Mentions that Catalina floats had similar effect.
14.41” Thinks there is still one Catalina being operated, in Egypt. Explains difference between seaplane and flying boats. Explains why flying boats are no longer used for passenger transport. Explains that is ‘water bomber’ flying boat currently manufactured in Canada. Reason it is not dangerous to scoop up water this way. Talks about large flying boat built for United States Navy towards end of Second World War – Martin Mars [?]. Size of Martin Mars. Used as water bomber.
17.28” Mentions Howard Hughes’s ‘Spruce Goose’. Russians still use flying boats. Contemporary role of flying boats.
18.25” Explains why TEAL’s ‘Coral Route’ was established. Mentions ZK-AMP – flew this aircraft with Captain [Cliff] Le Couteur with government specialists around Pacific in 1951 to check suitability of passenger route in Pacific. Flew to Laucala Bay in Fiji, then to Samoa. Mentions landing area at Satapuala in Samoa which had been used by Catalinas during Second World War. Reason area had to be surveyed for depth and width and length. Four weeks to do reconnaissance. Explains that designed raft so could measure landing area at Satapuala and survey where coral heads were located.
23.05” Explains how Cliff Le Couteur got rid of coral heads. Took four weeks to measure Satapuala landing area. Samoans watched because fish were killed when coral heads were bombed.
24.55” Interview ends. Short amount of music.
Media/Materials
Physical description
1 sound cassette (approximately 25 minutes)
Other title
Mori McGreal. Radio NZ. Solent & Catalinas
Credit line
Radio New Zealand et al. 22 Jan 1994. Interview with Maurice McGreal on Catalinas and the Coral route, 05-792. Walsh Memorial Library, The Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT).
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Production place
Subject: all levels
Interviews
McGreal, Maurice, 1918-
Anecdotes
Catalina (Seaplane)
Anecdotes
Aerial operations
World War, 1939-1945
Anecdotes
Piloting
Airplanes
Anecdotes
Short Sunderland
Anecdotes
Tasman Empire Airways Limited
Anecdotes
Coral Route
<C> Anecdotes
Le Couteur, Cliff
Anecdotes
New Zealand
Sound recording and reproducing
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