A Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina patrol bomber in an undated photo.Museum of Flight/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images The PBY Catalina flying boat was one of the most iconic Allied aircraft of World War II. PBY Catalinas were used to patrol coastlines, hunt enemy warships, and rescue sailors and aircrews. Now a company plans to build an updated version of the Catalina for civilian and military customers. To a downed Allied pilot floating on a raft, they were lifesavers.