PBY Foundation has growing pains

Adolph Meisch, a former PBY flight engineer, sits before 'Gerral's Girl' on the day work crews reconnected the planes wings. (File Photo)
Adolph Meisch, a former PBY flight engineer, sits before 'Gerral's Girl' on the day work crews reconnected the planes wings. (File Photo)

It’s a good problem to have.

Due to an increase in visitors, artifacts and the addition of an actual World War II-era PBY 5A Catalina seaplane, the PBY Memorial Foundation on the Seaplane Base of Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is seeing more requests to add additional “open” days.

As soon as more reliable volunteers are added to the roster, organizers hope to do just that.

Currently Navy personnel and retirees donate their time, giving a hand on “Gerral’s Girl,” the foundation’s PBY 5A on site, sourcing historical hardware and finding old documents and crew logs.

But organizers are still looking for people to fill other vital roles within the foundation, such as handling data entry, managing the gift shop, conducting tours of the displays and fund raising.

Anyone interested in volunteering their time and talent can call the office at 240-9500.