Why was it said that Catalina crews needed a calendar?

Short answer

The joke was about the navigator: critics mockingly said the Catalina was so slow that its navigator needed a calendar more than a stopwatch. Its top speed was 179 mph at 6,500 ft. On long missions, pilots could spend up to 20 hours straight in the cockpit.

Published: November 5, 2026 · Updated: November 5, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Why was it said that Catalina crews needed a calendar?

Consolidated PBY Catalina landing at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida (USA), circa in 1943

The stopwatch joke

Critics joked that the Catalina was so slow that its navigator needed a calendar instead of a stopwatch. The aircraft's top speed was 179 mph at 6,500 ft. It was also considered slow and quite uncomfortable. On long missions, pilots could expect to occupy the flight deck for up to 20 hours at a stretch.

Slow and used for everything

Although the Catalina was slow, Allied forces employed it in a wide variety of roles it was never designed for. During World War II, PBYs were used for anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escort, search and rescue missions — especially naval air rescue — and cargo transport. It flew more hours on combat patrol than any other American wartime aircraft of the period. It was the most numerous aircraft of its class in the conflict, with about 3,300 built.

Rescues, Midway, and the Black Cats

It was best known as the angel of mercy that achieved thousands of rescues throughout the war. It was a Catalina that first spotted the Japanese fleet during the Battle of Midway, which marked the turning point of the war. Later, special Black Cat squadrons were formed, starting in December 1942 with VP-12, followed by 13 more squadrons.