PBY Catalina was also employed by the RAAF as a long-range bomber and mine-layer. Catalinas excelled in the latter role, for while their low speed made them vulnerable to fighters, it also allowed them to accurately lay mines while flying. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ <unk> <unk> <unk> They also forced Japanese shipping into waters where American submarines were present. <unk> They also forced Japanese shipping into waters where American submarines were present. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️ <unk> <unk> <unk> 1944 RAAF Catalinas flew missions to the Philippines and laid naval mines in Manila Bay to interdict the Japanese navy and prevent their intervention in the Philippines
Battle of Mindoro. ️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️<unk>️