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The frequent appearance of German U-boats close to U.S. coastal waters made the U.S. Navy aware that it needed a long-range maritime patrol aircraft. Because Boeing had considerable experience with flying boats (the most famous being the Boeing 314-A "Clipper" used by Pan Am Airways), the Navy approached Boeing about designing a suitable aircraft for its purposes. In June 1940 a contract was awarded for a prototype XPBB-1, with the first flight taking place in July 1942. Unfortunately for Boeing, changing ideas regarding maritime patrol aircraft brought cancellation of the order for the U.S. Navy's XPBB-1 Sea Rangers, and this excellent flying boat never proceeded beyond the prototype stage.
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