Documentary captures dramatic rescue of rare World War II seaplane on Loch Ness

A new documentary follows the fraught six-week battle to save a rare World War II seaplane after it broke down on Loch Ness.

‘Miss Pick Up’, operated by Plane Sailing, one of only 15 airworthy Catalinas left in the world

The BBC Alba programme tells the story of ‘Miss Pick Up’, one of only 15 airworthy Catalinas left in the world, and the only airworthy one in the UK.

Produced in the 1930s and 1940s the Consolidated PBY Catalina flying boat and amphibious aircraft was one of the most widely used seaplanes of World War II.

The plane was used in anti-submarine warfare, patrol bombing, convoy escort, search and rescue missions, and cargo transport.

It was produced initially for the US Navy but was also flown by the RAF and played a vital role in the Second World War in combating German U-boats in the Atlantic.

‘Miss Pick Up’ had just finished flying across the Highland loch on October 17 last year while filming for a TV production before getting stuck on the water.

It was rescued by the RNLI, towed to Urquhart Bay for safety and lifted out of the water by a crane – however, the damaged engine would need to be replaced.

Exposed to the elements and with the risk of storms on the notorious loch this programme documents the fraught six-week battle with funds, weather and logistics, and the race to save the precious seaplane.

Former RAF Harrier pilot Paul Warren Wilson who led the rescue operation recalls the moment the seaplane broke down.

Mr Wilson said: “We just stopped to let a cameraman off the plane and he was clear.

“Two minutes later we started engines again but unfortunately the right engine said ‘not starting’ in fact not even turning over.

“One of the worst things that can happen to us is being unable to start an engine on the water. It’s pretty unusual for us, especially if we’ve just been running and just landed.

“Theoretically you can take off on one engine but this wasn’t going to be possible for us with the weather conditions we had.

“We were in the middle of the loch with the problem of drifting backwards and sooner or later you’re going to hit something.

"It was calm when we landed but in the longer term we needed shelter and to protect the plane because she’s not indestructible. We needed help and fortunately the RNLI were nearby and came to our aid.”

Plane Sailing, the Cambridge-based team of pilots and volunteers who operate the IWM Duxford-based plane, raised £30,000 through a GoFundMe page to replace the plane's damaged engine and fly her safely back to their home base in Duxford, Cambridge.

‘Miss Pick Up’, which appears at up to 20 airshows a year, is not operated for profit and Plane Sailing's sole mission is to keep the aircraft flying and honour her legacy.

The programme ends with Miss Pick Up’s safe return last December to Cambridge.

It airs on BBC ALBA on Monday, January 25 at 9pm and will be available on the BBC iPlayer for 30 days after.

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