In the Strait of Tiran, near Sharm el-Sheikh, closer to Saudi Arabian territory in the province of Tabuk, there is an unusual sight to see.
These are the remains of a World War II seaplane that have lain here for over 60 years and have recently become a tourist attraction, although no large-scale tours are organized here.
Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina
The history of the Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina seaplane began in the 1930s; it was developed for the U.S. Army as an anti-submarine aircraft, a reconnaissance aircraft, and for special operations. A large number of these aircraft were produced, and after World War II, they continued to serve in the military and were also sold to other organizations, including private individuals.
An airplane on Ras el-Sheikh Hamid Beach
One such person was retired businessman Thomas W. Kendall. The 44-year-old man had made a fortune in the air conditioning business and retired early. He bought the Catalina, hired interior designers to convert the interior into a luxurious flying yacht, and planned to embark on a round-the-world trip.
The journey began in 1959 with three similar luxury aircraft. One plane carried the businessman himself, his family, and a photographer from LIFE magazine. The others carried other travelers from Kendall’s circle.
The flight from Egypt was supposed to end in Baghdad, but along the way they saw the picturesque beaches of the Arabian coast and decided to stop there for the night. On the evening of March 22, 1960, the travelers landed in the strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They wanted to stay there and admire the beauty of the desert and the sea.
On the morning of March 23, while the adults were resting and the children were playing in the water, they were attacked by Bedouins. The tribe mistook the tourists for an Israeli army landing party, even though an American flag was flying above the vehicle. Over 300 rifle shots were fired at the plane and its occupants. The shooting lasted 30 minutes.
Kendall and his companions were taken to Jeddah for questioning and were released shortly thereafter. Catalina, however, was severely damaged and could no longer fly. Moreover, her owners returned to the United States, leaving the plane to be ravaged by salt water, the sun, sand, and the passage of time.
Catalina right now
The coordinates of the abandoned plane – https://maps.app.goo.gl/WWnonoAS1aUKmHa76
The wreckage was forgotten for a long time. This was largely because it is a sparsely populated part of Saudi Arabia, and it wasn’t until 1995 that the wreckage was discovered and its condition documented.
By that time, the aircraft had broken into two pieces, which lie some distance apart from each other. Bullet marks are still visible, but corrosion is eating away at the metal more and more.
Now, not only is the location of the wreckage well known, but active construction of the NEOM project is underway in the area. A road has been built here, an oil pipeline runs through it, and there are more people around. Graffiti can now be seen on the wreckage; people are breaking off pieces as souvenirs, which is why the Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina had to be fenced off, though even that doesn’t help much.
By 2026, the metal had rusted even more, and the two sections of the fuselage were even further apart (partly due to human activity). Sixty years have passed since the crash, and eventually, nature and humans will completely erase its traces.