U.S. Navy Seaplane Name and Acronym Primer: If you have ever wondered why the Navy gave their seaplanes so many confusing model numbers this might help translate some of it:Seaplanes with "PB" mean "patrol bomber", (but actually they could also be doing transport, reconnaissance and other missions as well.) A "PBM" was a patrol bomber made by Martin. A "PBY" was a  patrol bomber made by Consolidated (and later called Convair).Seaplane names like  "Mariner" and "Mars", etc., usually came from the original aircraft maker. The British RAF gave the names "Catalina" and "Coronado" to those seaplane types because they were made in San Diego. Other seaplane types were usually named after  sea birds, like "Goose" "Kingfisher", "Widgeon" "Albatross", etc. Seaplanes were also  operated by the U.S. Army Air Corps and Air Force. And even the U.S. Air Force once had their own seaplanes. Pre-war colors were usually silver with yellow-orange trim. Most Pacific War colors were flat dark blue with flat white underneath. Post-war and Korea Era seaplanes were a royal Blue with white or red trim.