Early Consolidated Catalinas in British service
In the buildup to WWII, Britain considered the Consolidated 28.
In July 1939 the British Purchasing Commision ordered a single Consolidated 28-4, the civil equivalent of the PBY-4. The aircraft was delivered to the UK by a civilian crew, becoming the first trans-Atlantic delivery of a military aircraft. The aircraft's performance was considered subpar, and its defensive armament inadequate to ensure survival in combat. Instead Britain concentrated on the Saro Lerwick. However the distinctive waist blisters of the Catalina were created in response to allow better defense.
The Consolidated 28 was outdated by 1939 and appeared about to be superceded by Consolidated's followup models the 29 and 31. However the start of the European War led to an immediate US demand for a patrol flying boat and the largest US naval aircraft order since WWI kept the production line running.
With the failure of the Lerwick Britain now ordered 59 aircraft by December 1940, calling them Catalina - the name then being universally adopted.
Catalinas entered service with the RAF in March 1941, and crews were in training when the Bismark attempted its dash for the French ports. In a secret violation of American neutrality, US pilots were flying with RAF pilots to train the British airmen on the Catalinas. Catalinas of 209 Squadron RAF were sent to search the Atlantic for the Bismark, and WQ-Z spotted and was engaged by the vessel, but shadowed her and allowed the British task force to sink the Bismark. The presence of US airmen was kept secret as their presence would have pushed America into a state of war with Germany.