The American Heritage Museum’s Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, Bureau Number 2459, was named the World War II Grand Champion Warbird at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2026 on Saturday, July 25.
The aircraft’s restoration team, American Aero Services of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, also received the Golden Wrench Award, presented by Snap-on Tools, in recognition of the extraordinary craftsmanship and dedication demonstrated during the Catalina’s monumental seven-year restoration.
BuNo 2459 made its first major public appearance following restoration at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh from Monday, July 20, through Sunday, July 26. The historic flying boat became one of the most viewed and photographed aircraft of the week while displayed in EAA Warbirds Alley and featured during a Warbirds in Review presentation.
On Wednesday evening, the PBY appeared in the AirVenture air show, giving thousands of spectators the opportunity to see and hear the historic aircraft in flight. It was later moved to Boeing Plaza at the center of the AirVenture grounds, where it remained a major attraction throughout the weekend.
The awards came less than three weeks after BuNo 2459 completed its first post-restoration flight on July 6, 2026. Led by project manager Casey Littrell, the team at American Aero Services returned the aircraft to an exceptionally accurate representation of its 1942 configuration.
Decades of civilian service had removed or altered much of the PBY’s original military equipment. Using factory drawings, wartime manuals, period photographs, and surviving components, the restoration team added, rebuilt, or recreated its turrets, crew stations, radio and radar equipment, military interiors, markings, and other mission-specific details.
The American Heritage Museum extends its deepest appreciation to Casey Littrell and the entire American Aero Services team. Their technical expertise, perseverance, historical research, and attention to detail transformed one of the world’s most significant surviving military aircraft into an internationally recognized, award-winning restoration.
Built during the opening weeks of America’s involvement in World War II, BuNo 2459 was among the first five amphibious PBY-5A Catalinas produced and the fourth accepted by the United States Navy. It was assigned to Patrol Squadron 73 and deployed to Iceland to protect Allied shipping during the Battle of the Atlantic.
During its 19-month deployment, BuNo 2459 flew 195 combat missions and more than 1,675 combat hours. Its crews sighted 13 German U-boats, attacked 10, and sank three: U-464, U-582, and U-194. A fourth, U-528, was badly damaged and later destroyed. This record makes BuNo 2459 the highest-scoring anti-submarine aircraft in history.
The museum also gratefully recognizes the individuals whose generosity made the acquisition and preservation of BuNo 2459 possible:
Aircraft Donors: Bruce Dworak & Family, David Prescott, and J. Steven Whisler
Major Restoration Donors: The Gerard B. Lambert Foundation, Jennifer and Gary Applebaum, and The Hewlett Family Foundation
Their support allowed BuNo 2459 to regain its authentic wartime appearance and return to the sky as a living tribute to the aircrews, maintainers, and support personnel who confronted the German U-boat threat during World War II.
Until that gallery is completed, the Catalina will initially remain on display in Oshkosh, WI at the EAA Museum until AirVenture 2027 and continue to serve as a flying ambassador for the museum and a living tribute to the aircrews, maintenance personnel, and support teams who operated the PBY during World War II.
About the American Heritage Museum
The American Heritage Museum at the Collings Foundation, featuring the Jacques M. Littlefield Collection, explores the history of the United States through major conflicts from the Revolutionary War through the present day. Through historically significant artifacts, immersive exhibits, educational programs, and operational military vehicles and aircraft, the museum examines changing technology and the human impact of America’s fight to preserve freedom.
The American Heritage Museum is a program of Collings Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by admissions, grants, members, volunteers, and generous contributors. The museum is located at 568 Main Street in Hudson, Massachusetts.
Photo Gallery
Photos by Doug Birkey, Jim Harley, and Al Sauer
