My father flew on a PBM during WWII as flight engineer, and even though he didn't talk too much about it, I think I heard him say that his plane found the USS Indianapolis. The story on the homepage says that the Indianapolis was found by a PBY or PV-1. Is there any way it could have been a PBM instead?

After some more research, it is obvious that the plane discovering the survivors could not have been my father's. Maybe his was one of the planes that showed up after the survivors were reported.

Hi - According to the book 'Tragic Fate of the USS Indianapolis page 136 - there was a PBM involved in the initial sighting - it was en route to the Phillipines when it saw and contacted Lt.Gwinn who was circling the survivors - the PBM dropped 3 of its life rafts and stayed about an hour. No doubt fuel supply dictated his depature. Your dad may well have got it right!! Hope this helps and if I can fine more I will post it Wakelin

  Wakelin here again

I have found the Official report submitted by Lt.WORTHINGTON pilot of the PBM which was second on scene, before the other aircraft and ships arrived, I also have a page from one of the PBMs crew log book confirming the sighting.
My Email is:
johnwakelin07@att.net

if you E mail me I will send you the report and a photo scan of the log book page - use USS Indianapolis -n the Subject line, thanks
.
I hope it is your dads crew

Regards,
Wakelin