The iconic PBY Catalina was not only the work horse of the US Navy's patrol bomber units during WWII, but also served admirably with the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and others. Airmen aboard British PBYs were the first to spot the German battleship Bismarck when it entered the North Atlantic in May 1941, and US Navy PBY crewmen were the first to observe the Japanese fleet as it stole toward Midway Islands in June 1942. In addition to keeping a watchful eye for enemy activities, Catalina crews also rescued countless downed airmen as well as sailors from stricken ships. Through daring bomb and depth-charge attacks on enemy vessels, Catalina airmen also contributed directly to the defeat of the Axis powers in combat.