March 12th, 2021
Museum a gem for naval aviation buffs
Photo of a PBY Catalina
Model of a PBY
Gun turret. Aircraft primarily served patrol functions, but equipped for bombing and defense.
Norden bombsight head
Miscellaneous parts and equipment
PBY on display outside, wrapped for winter
Deserving of the “best kept secret” tag in the world of military aviation is the PBY-Naval Air Museum in downtown Oak Harbor. This proud little museum is a must for anyone, regardless of age, who appreciates airplanes, history and specifically, naval aviation on Whidbey Island. My grandson and I had a wonderful time at the museum, thanks in large part to volunteers George Love, Sonny Starks and Martha Yount. There is a nominal $5 charge for a visit, OR you can purchase a $35 annual membership with benefits including free admission for two people. On top of that, the annual membership entitles you to FREE admission to the Museum of Flight in Seattle and the Canadian Museum of Flight in Langley, B.C. Now that’s a bargain! I highly recommend this museum (masks still required as of March 2021) and encourage a visit to see the PBY on display across the street: “Visit the museum and step back in history to see how a small island town was caught up in the turmoil of WWII and the building of a Naval Air Station that brought the beloved PBY Catalina amphibious aircraft to its shores.” There is also a wonderful 25-minute film about the arrival of the U.S. Navy to North Whidbey shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Visit pnwnam.org for details.