A mannequin in the PBY Cutaway Exhibit portrays a weary sailor grabbing a few winks in one of the racks situated in a compartment on board the flying boat. Newly assigned personnel to PBY squadrons were not optimistic about sleeping on board the aircraft when they experienced flying in one, but wearying long missions made sleep more appealing. Note the life rafts stowed against the bulkheads in the event the plane had to make a forced landing over water.

One of the most recognizable physical features of the PBY Catalina were the so-called blisters located on both sides of the fuselage on the rear section of the aircraft. Bulbous and shaped like tear drops, the blisters served multiple purposes, notably defensive given the fact that machine guns were stationed at each position, allowing gunners to cover the rear and sides of the aircraft in the event it was being pursued by attacking enemy fighters.

A crewman manning one of the blisters on board a PBY Catalina relays a report to the airplane's pilots as he keeps watch over the ocean below. Operating in the forward areas translated into less stringent regulations as evidenced by the beard worn by the sailor. Sharp-eyed lookouts were essential to the success of the Catalina in the missions with which it was tasked. During the Battle of Midway in June 1942, PBYs patrolling west of Midway Atoll were the first to spot ships of the invasion and attack forces.  In the aftermath of combat actions in the battle, PBYs again took to the skies, crewman on board spotting life rafts of aviators forced to ditch their aircraft. In the Battle of the Atlantic, spotting a U-boat on the surface recharging its batteries oftentimes gave the PBY the upper hand in its effort to sink the enemy vessel.

Crew members on board a PBY Catalina practice recovering a downed airman from the water during a training exercise. Rescue missions flown by the Catalinas and other aircraft, called "Dumbo" missions, saved countless lives during World War II, including those of the survivors of the sinking of the heavy cruiser Indianapolis in 1945.