Dates

Event

Constructed as a PBY-6A.

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 64041.

By 1958

To Leo J. Demers, Salem, OR/ACE Flying Service with new c/r N6453C.
Operated with markings: 23

20 May 1958

Certificate of airworthiness for NR85U (PBY-6A, 64041) issued.

June 1958

Photographer: Peter W. Orr
Notes: PBY spray plane. Western spruce budworm control project. John Day airstrip, Oregon.

1959

To Rosenbalm Aviation, Medford, OR keeping c/r N6453C.

1961

To Sonora Flying Service, Columbia, CA, keeping c/r N6453C.

From 1962 to 1966

To B. B. Burson and Associates, Columbia keeping c/r N6453C.
Markings added: E54

To Cal Nat Airways, Grass Valley CA keeping c/r N6453C.
Markings added: 54

From 1968 to 1979

To Hemet Valley Flying Services, Hemet, CA keeping c/r N6453C.

September 1974

Photographer: Eric Bannwarth

5 October 1978

Photographer: Phillip Dawe
Notes: N6453C/54 - PBY-6A Catalina - Hemet Valley Flying Service - Stockton - Previously US Navy 64041, operated in the fire-bombing role with various companies,

May 1979

To Flying Firemen, Victoria, BC with new c/r C-GFFI.
Operated with markings: 9

14 March 1986

To Flying Fireman Inc, Spanaway, WA with new c/r N85U.

From 1988 to 1989

To Awood Air Ltd, Spanaway, WA keeping c/r N85U.

Based at Deer Park Municipal Airport, Deer Park, WA.
View the Location Dossier

2005

Photographer: Larry Johnson
Notes: In Deer Park, WA.

9 April 2010

Certificate of airworthiness for NR85U (PBY-6A, 64041) issued.

By 2 July 2012

Based at Arlington Municipal Airport (East Side), Arlington, WA.
View the Location Dossier

2 July 2012

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At Arlington MunicipalGoogle Maps Ref - 48 09 35.16 N 122 09 09.95 W

2 July 2012

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: At Arlington MunicipalGoogle Maps Ref - 48 09 35.16 N 122 09 09.95 W

3 July 2015

Crashed.
The airframe was written off. It was a local flight from -. The event occurred at off Orange Beach, AL (United States of America) while standing. On June 29, 2015, a Consolidated PBY-6A Catalina became beached on a sand bar on the shore of Orange Beach, Alabama. The aircraft was being used in the film production of The U. S. S. Indianapolis: Men of Courage and had just landed. The aircraft began taking on water and a pump was used to remove the water from the inside of the plane. Initial attempts to free the plane using two tractors failed because a cable snapped...
For a complete description of the event read the Aviation Safety Network Report.

8 March 2018

Civil registration, N85U, cancelled.