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| The first US Navy contract for two XP2V-1 Neptune maritime-reconnaissance bombers was placed in April 1944. The first prototype flew in 1945. From then Lockheed received contracts for the P2V-1 to P2V-7 versions which were subsequently redesignated in the P-2 category.
Last versions in operational service were the P-2E (formerly P2V-5) which introduced the glazed nose, MAD tailboom, Julie/Jezebel ASW systems, etc, and later fitted with auxiliary underwing turbojets; SP-2E, as for the P-2E but with modernised equipment; P-2H, the first version to introduce auxiliary underwing turbojets and incorporating equipment and detail changes; and the SP-2H, as for the P-2H but with modernised equipment. These served with the Argentinian Navy (P-2H), Australian Air Force (SP-2H), Brazilian Air Force (P-2E), French Navy (P-2H), JMSDF (P-2H, and Kawasaki P-2J), Netherlands Navy (SP-2H), Portuguese Air Force (SP-2E) and the US Navy (SP-2H).
| CREW | 7 |
| ENGINE | 2 x Wright R-3350-32W, 2575kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 36191 kg | 79788 lb |
| Empty weight | 22592 kg | 49807 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 31.7 m | 104 ft 0 in |
| Length | 27.9 m | 92 ft 6 in |
| Height | 8.9 m | 29 ft 2 in |
| Wing area | 92.9 m2 | 999.97 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 648 km/h | 403 mph |
| Ceiling | 6800 m | 22300 ft |
| Range w/max.fuel | 5930 km | 3685 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 2 x 12.7mm machine-guns, bombs, missiles, torpedos |
| Ron Wisberger, e-mail, 29.07.2011 23:35 I was a Navy brat living on NAS, Barbers Point, Hawaii where my dad, Laurence (Larry) Wisberger was assigned to a Neptune squadron in 1953 & '54. He deployed to Japan in '54 and we went back to the mainland to await his arrival in '55. He was a CPO and always marveled at the plane, saying it was the best squadron he ever worked on. He previously had flown the Seagull and Kingfisher catapault scout planes off of the Battleship USS New Mexico before and during the war, afterwhich he was assigned to the MARS seaplane squadron at NAS, Alameda before shipping to Barbers Point. He retired in '57 after 28 years in the Navy. Years later, he still talked about the Neptune as being the best. Much to my surprise, two years ago while taking flying lessons at San Bernardino Airport, Calif. I came up behind a Neptune which had been converted for fire drops, awaiting takeoff. Still a beauty of a machine and brought back many memories from long ago. reply | | Harry (Jimmy) Ralph, e-mail, 13.07.2011 23:09 I was an Aircrewman in VP24 from 1960 to 1963. Crew 7 flew Bur # 147946 and later 143175. Our only mechanical mishap was loss of an engine during an ASW exercise while we were about 200 miles at sea. Those Westinghouse jets came in handy on that day. The P2V was well suited to long duration flights. We were sent to Key West (Boca Chica) during the Bay of Pigs invasion, then in the summer of 1962 we went to Keflavik to observe Soviet fleet exercises. During the Cuban missile crisis, we flew out of Gitmo (Leeward Point)taking pictures of ships leaving Cuba with missiles. During these operations we were flying from 10-14 hrs and always made it back to base safely. I have many good memories of my time in VP 24 and flying on P2V's. Some of these planes are on display in Aviation Museums. At NAS Pensacola one is outside and the Truculent Turtle is displayed jn a new hangar addition. Also at the Warner Robins AFB there is a RB-69A (that's the AF's designation for a P2V. reply | | Klaatu, e-mail, 10.07.2011 18:30 Compare with the Martin P4M Mercator, which was designed to meet the same requirement. In contrast with the widely-used Neptune, only 19 P4Ms were produced. I believe the main reason the Navy preferred the P2V was that the Marin aircraft was more expensive. reply | | George Marshall, e-mail, 09.07.2011 22:54 The specs do not list the jet engines. reply | |
| | Jim Weed, e-mail, 21.06.2011 01:51 I was in VP-19 as a pilot. I flew the P2V-7 from 1956 through 1959 while stationed in Alameda, CA. We deployed to Kodiak and Adak, Alaska doing submarine and ice patrol work. The P2V was a great, long-range aircraft and its longevity is amazing as I watched P2Vs in approximately 2000 dropping slurry on forest fires in New Mexico. While most of the P2Vs have been taken out of service, you will occasionally see one still dropping slurry on forest firest today. reply | | phillip w shute sr, e-mail, 20.06.2011 05:39 I flew as crew member on search and rescue in station in adak ak from 1968 to 1969. I loved flying on this aircraft and me and my cousin were metal smiths and helped convert aircraft 135569 to accomodate litters and medical personnel and flew on many missions searching for downed aircraft and missing vessels. reply | | Harry J Vinson, e-mail, 12.06.2011 00:46 I was the 2nd technician on P2V3W Buro #124287, the first plane sent to Japan from Guam for support of troops in Pusan Korea. I flew my first mission on July 8,1950 and was one of the Origional Blue Sharks a name given Patrol Squadron Six VP6 by the author of "Blues Sharks Over Red Coast" for the Oct 1950 issue of Saurday Evening Post. Fine Aircraft. reply | | bombardier, e-mail, 23.05.2011 14:47 This plane was a piston anachronism in the jet age but it was quite versatile it's long service life shows it reply | | Robert Hanish, e-mail, 16.05.2011 21:57 Stationed at BNAS from '64-'67 with VP-21. AX3, as a Jez /Julie operator. Tour included, Keflavik /Reykjavik, Bodo, Stravanger,Oslo,Copenhagen, Bermuda and Key West. Chased Whiskey's all over the North Atlantic, and caught most of them..A wonderful aircraft, that always brought us home through unbelievable winter conditions. reply | | steve miller, e-mail, 12.05.2011 22:12 I flew on LR-12, VP-24 out of Norfolk,VA as Julie and Loran operator seated just foward of the wing beam. This is a great airplane and we had a great crew. I still have a hand painted picture we had done while deployed in Rota, Spain. reply |
| Denis, 08.05.2011 17:49 I was a Flight Engineer on P2V7s in the RCAF for six years on 407 MP Squadron. Based in Comox BC. a foundling member of P2000 club and then VP International. Approx 4000 hours. After retiring ,from F /E on C103's, years later, I was lucky to fly one of the aircraft with my old skipper( I had qualified as pilot on type) on fire bombing. Great aircraft, great crew. Lots of memories reply | | Gene Wilson, e-mail, 01.05.2011 05:26 I served with VP-29 NAS Whidbey from 1952 to 1955 in Japan, Kwajelien, and Okinawa with R&R in Hong Kong. Side trips to the Phillipines. Flew patrols off Tiawan (Formosa) during the Quemoy-Matsu Islands dispute between Nationalist & Red China. I finished my career as an (acting) plane captain on P2V-5's. What a great airplane! reply | | E. N. Hammon, e-mail, 28.04.2011 07:03 VP-11 1963-1966. Flew as Navigator and co-pilot on crew 11, Buno # 147962 for my entire tour of duty in Brunswick, ME. PPC names Forrest and Steiner come to mind. Skippers were Klause, Richardson, Falkenstein. Deployments to Sigonella, Rota and Guantanamo. Flew SP2Hs Brunswick and also in the Reserves out of NASs Alemeda, Olathe, KS, and Memphis. Only had one engine failure during all those years. reply | | Ron Waitman, e-mail, 25.04.2011 00:26 I crewed in this bad boy flying Army recon in Vietnam. We used to envy the Navy their newer P3s that sat next to us on the flight line at Cam Ranh Bay, but we always got home safe. reply | |
| | Bill Daley, e-mail, 22.04.2011 22:20 VP-11, NAS Brunswick from Jan'56 to Sept'57. Joined crew 11 which had recently gotten a factory new P2V-7 (Buno 140431) as radio operator in June'56 just before deployment to Malta in July.
Squadron did low level, formation mining exercise @ Souda Bay Crete for NATO demo for "brass". Our plane was at 150 ft and I was looking down on 2 planes fron window opposite radio compartment. NEATO! Returned to NAS Brunswick in late Dec and in Jan '56 we had newly commissioned officers reporting aboard. They were assigned to be navigators. Went to Bermuda 3 times in one week on nav-training missions. Flew down, flew over Kindley AFB then returned to cold, wintery Maine. Just before separation in Sept '57 made a ferry trip of a factory fresh bird - a 141 series - to Malta. This bird had much improved ICS gear and a fire control radar for the turrt. Buno 140431 was a great plane.
But the APS20 radar wasn't as good for finding periscopes /snorkels as APS38 which I operated in Stoofs finishing up my obligation in the reserves at Nas Willow Grove. Riding the bow on rocket runs in a "Poppa two" was a big whoop. reply | | CHUB ERWIN, e-mail, 17.04.2011 01:23 P2V-5F'S WERE THE BACK BONE OF VW-4 NAVY "HURRICANE HUNTERS" IN N.A.S. JAX. FLA.,1955-1957, "ONE TOUGH BIRD".... reply | | Joe Rosenthal, e-mail, 16.04.2011 02:34 I was an AMS2 in VP-8 on P2v5f crew #10 from 57 to 60. Plane #131538. I was a metasmith, but taught myself morse code while we were in NAS Norfolk, and went on crew as 2nd Radio operator. CDR Shearer, Flight Liuet. Potter RCAf, and Ens Gould were three of our officers. Ens Gould was a true Officer and Gentleman. Was in Argentia twice and Rosie Rhodes. reply | | Bob Cloud, e-mail, 04.04.2011 02:15 Stationed at NAS JAX Jacksonville, FLA from 1960 thru 1963 where I flew as aircrewman with VP 18. Deployed Sigonella, Rosey Roads(many times),and Key West(many times) to participate in the beginnings of the Cuban Missle Crisis. Great airplane. Great times even when playing chicken with the Rooskies. Some of my brothers names: Belton, Smith ,Flagg, Katsikas, Brydon, Duffy, Barnes,Snipes and many more faces that I can't put names with right now. reply | | Charles M. Auker, e-mail, 30.03.2011 14:39 Did Two(2) Tours with 1st Radio Research,RSVN back in 1970's (LBJ's Great Society). Retired U.S.ARMY and now write contracts for the Veterans Affairs. reply | | J H Leopold, e-mail, 25.03.2011 14:09 Stationed in Jax , Fl Vp-18 , became Plane Capt on LG 11 , from 1957 to 1960 ,deployment to Roosevelt Roads , PR also Iceland 1959 , many stories of how thios amazing bird made it home after some of the missions and damage that it occured , had a great crew , Pilot was Ltcdr. Huddleston, one of the greatest. One of the best times of my life . reply |
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Don't know if you remember me. Nickname was "Harvey Hotdog". Remember going to Memphis and Dave Mckinley and me used your ID at the Peabody Hotel bar. The lady bartender didn't go for the 3 Steve Millers. Could have gone to Elvis's that night. Didn't work out. Hope you get this and are in good health.
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