By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
You read the headline and thought Mountain Lion or Tiger, right? But no, this is something much bigger and older that graced the skies over Colfax County Wednesday afternoon.
A 1943 vintage PBY Catalina with the Raton mesas as a back drop floated onto the runway at Raton Crews Field. The airplane began its long journey in France a couple of weeks ago piloted by Peter Houton and his co-pilot George Perez. According to Houghton this plan has had a long and varied life from war plane in the north Atlantic during World War II to a water bomber and movie studio.
During its time in World War II the plane was responsible for sinking a German U-Boat off the coast of Iceland. As a movie studio it was used in a movie about the Cousteau family, yes, the famous sea explorer Jacques Cousteau. The airplane will continue its flight on to Oregon where the new owner will take possession of the plane.
Houghton will return to Springer where he and his wife Kim reside. Houghton an engineer and vintage airplane restorer and pilot is planning to build a hangar at the Springer airport and bring his restoration business closer to home.
