Martin P5M Marlin

1948

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Martin P5M Marlin

With the US Navy requiring a new patrol flying-boat, Martin decided to develop the successful PBM Mariner, the resulting Martin Model 237 design combining the wing and upper hull of the Mariner with the new lower hull structure. The close relationship between the two types is emphasised by the fact that a PBM-5 Mariner served as the prototype XP5M-1 which, when ordered into production, was given the name Marlin. The modified hull of the XP5M-1 incorporated radar-directed nose and tail turrets, as well as a power-operated dorsal turret, and power was provided by two 2424kW Wright R-3350 radial engines. This prototype flew for the first time on 30 May 1948, but it was not until two years later that the P5M-1 was ordered into production, the first of these series aircraft being flown on 22 June 1951. Initial deliveries, to US Navy Squadron VP-44, began on 23 April 1952 and the type remained in service until the mid-1960s. In addition to those operated by the US Navy, 10 of the later P5M-2 version were supplied to France under the American MAP for use by the Aeronavale.

Martin P5M Marlin

Specification 
 MODELP5M
 CREW11
 ENGINE2 x Wright R-3350-32WA Turbo-Compound, 2573kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight38555 kg85000 lb
  Empty weight22900 kg50486 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan36.02 m118 ft 2 in
  Length30.66 m101 ft 7 in
  Wing area130.62 m21405.98 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed404 km/h251 mph
  Ceiling7300 m23950 ft
  Range3300 km2051 miles
 ARMAMENT3600kg of weapons

Martin P5M Marlin

Comments1-20 21-40 41-60 61-80 81-100 101-120 121-140 141-160 161-180 181-200 201-220
Joseph Ashby, e-mail, 28.09.2023 16:31

First assignment out of AT A School at NAS Memphis was to VP-47 which was already deployed to Iwakuni from Alameda NAS. Made a member of Crew 1 flying as radar, ECM or MAD. Two deployments in 1955 & 1956. Deployed to Sangley Point and was part of search and rescue for President Magsaysay plane when it crashed. Trying to reconstruct history for my memoirs. Went to Tokyo Bay with group of Army special forces elite who would bail out at low altitude and we would then land, deploy a 12-man raft on the port side and scoop them up UDT style, take off and do it again.

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Peter FullerAlohafuller@gmail.com, e-mail, 01.08.2023 01:49

1960 to August 61 from mid 1960 August 1961 ATS sonar operator and first regiment from VP 31 looking forward to hearing from anybody who served with me at that time.

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Peter Fuller, e-mail, 01.08.2023 01:47

1960 to August 61 from mid 1960 August 1961 ATS sonar operator and first regiment from VP 31 looking forward to hearing from anybody who served with me at that time.

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Peter Fuller, e-mail, 01.08.2023 01:47

1960 to August 61 from mid 1960 August 1961 ATS sonar operator and first regiment from VP 31 looking forward to hearing from anybody who served with me at that time.

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JAMES WHITAKER JR, e-mail, 22.07.2023 03:16

I was a crew leader on the beaching and line crew NAS Corpus Christi, VT-31 1963-1964. I had many crazy stories about launching and recovery of the Boat. Any old shipmates who remember those days contact me.

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OInker8, e-mail, 19.09.2023 JAMES WHITAKER JR

PLease respond to the young lady wanting info on Beaching Crews on Launch and Recovery Her Father was Navy

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JAMES WHITAKER JR, e-mail, 22.07.2023 03:09

jw1943@all.com

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David Pope, e-mail, 23.11.2022 20:48

I was an AT in VP-46 from late 1958-1961. I joined the squadron in August 1958 at Sangley Point Philippines for 6 months. I was a member of the night crew and later a flight crew member of Crew 5 on the P5M. In 1961, I was transitioned to the P2V Neptune in 1961 where I continued as a flight crew member. On both aircraft. I was the radar operator and backup radioman. Our P5M lost an engine returning from R&R and we jettisoned most of the equipment to lighten our load. We were able to keep our personal effects once we leveled out at about 100 ft off the water for 3 hours to return to Sangley. I have a few photos. If interested contact me. tabsgran2@gmail.com

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Gary Renn, e-mail, 09.03.2023 David Pope

David Pope

My brother, Carl Renn was killed in a P5M Marlin crash in Corpus Christi TX Dec 9, 1957. I have a plaque of his that says "Patrol Squadron 46". I'm wondering if you you might have any info to share. My understanding is he was stationed in San Diego, but was flying with a crew that was making a cross country trip. They had stopped to refuel in Tx and an engine caught fire shortly after take off and the plane went down.
Any further info you might have would be appreciated.

Thanks
Gary Renn

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Al Martinez, e-mail, 08.01.2023 David Pope

Hi David,

I was an AT with VP-46 in 1958 during the Formosa Crisis. Stationed in Sangley in 1958. Would love the photos. P5M radioman.

Al Martinez

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Anonymous, 05.01.2024 Al Martinez

Never met you in squadron nor photographed you for the cruise book either in 57 or 58...why is that..?

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Charles Morton, e-mail, 25.09.2023 Gary Renn

Hi Gary,

I'm sorry for the loss of your brother. My Great Uncle was the pilot of that aircraft. I'm trying to piece together a little more family history for my children, but I only have a few pictures of him. I'm curious if you might have any photos of him with his crew. Maybe your brother had some pictures of the aircraft as well?

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Brian N Miller, e-mail, 07.05.2023 Gary Renn

Hi Gary, the pilot of that aircraft, LCDR. Scofield, was a good friend of my father's. They both commanded crews in VP-46 around that time. My parents kept in touch with his widow, I remember visiting her and her daughters when I was a kid, they lived in Coronado.

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Charles Morton, e-mail, 25.09.2023 Brian N Miller

Hi Brian,

LCDR Scofield was my Great Uncle. My mother can still remember the day that her father, my grandfather, received the phone call about the crash. I have a few pictures of him, but mostly stories. Do you possibly have any photos of him, or of the aircraft in their unit? I'd love to keep his memory alive, and pass the history to my children.

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Brian N Miller, e-mail, 03.11.2023 Charles Morton

Hi Charles, sorry that I did not see this earlier. I have the squadron book from the '57 WESTPAC that has photos. We are moving, so it's packed away right now, but I would be glad to send photos in the near future. Please email me at vntgmxr88@aol.com to remind me. Brian

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roland n martinez PH1 retired, 05.01.2024 Charles Morton

I was a photographer and have many photos...send me the specifics iyour e address to drlitam@aol.com and I will furnish you at no cost what i have... I knew your uncle was it Scofield ?

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Ron Jackman, e-mail, 21.06.2022 01:55

Re "beaching" a P5M. After the flight crew catches the buoy, a "line handing" boat takes a heavy Manila line to hook on the stern. A "wader" replaces the line w /a cable. The boat takes the 2 float mounted main gear out to either side of the seaplane to be hooked to the plane by the flight crew. After the wader helps a crew member hook on the tail gear, the P5M is pulled up the ramp tail first by a heavy tractor. After a "complete" fresh water wash down, the plane /boat is moved to a parking spot.

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Roland N Martinez PH1, e-mail, 03.03.2023 Ron Jackman

Ron, I was a photomate with 46 in 57 and 58. I have a beautiful black and white 8x10 just for you free of course...send me your address and I will mail it to you...it is a sunset view of a p5 being pulled out of the water...it is gorgeous and I am looking at a framed print right now.. e me at: the e address listed...I live in Chula Vista, a suburb of San Diego.. call me Nno.

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roland n martinez ph1, e-mail, 05.01.2024 Roland N Martinez PH1

no respoonse

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Brian N Miller, e-mail, 07.05.2023 Roland N Martinez PH1

Hi Roland, my father was PPC of crew 11 around that time, I still have the 1957 westpac book, his flight jacket, and his squadron patch. Our family also lived in C.V.

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Ron Jackman, e-mail, 21.06.2022 00:31

Got to VP50 at Whitby Island. 1959. Went to N Island (comp cleaning) during J J inst. On to Iwakuni for beach crew. (Cmd Koenig.) Was in Iwakuni during Cuban crisis. Flew with flight crews whenever I could. Back to N Island in 62-63 to VP31. Discharged. Flew 2 yrs out of Los Alamitos on P2V's. Anyone out there still kicking around?

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Ken Walling, e-mail, 13.03.2018 23:45

Radioman in VP-49 1962 to 1964. Flew with a number of crews. Went single engine twice on consecutive Fridays while flying out of Gitmo during the missile crisis. Transitioned with VP-49 to P-3s at Pax River. (Became a PPC with VP-23 in Brunswick. The Second Tech in VP-49 became my Tech when I was PPC.)

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Judy Dudley, e-mail, 12.03.2022 Ken Walling

Ken, would like to be in touch with you about VP-49, Bermuda and October 1962. Married to Jim Dudley and in touch with Bob Bentley both of Crew 7 during Cuban Crisis. Judy Dudley

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Tom Hale, e-mail, 11.03.2018 22:57

Hi guys. Checked into VP-48 in February 1960. Went mess cooking for three months. Then went to help decommission FASRON 110 in the VP Hanger. Went back to the Squadron in August 1960 and started flying as ECM /Julie operator, sat starboard lookout on take offs and landings. Got my A /C wings a year later. Made AE3 and AE2 there and got out in March 1963. Was on the test crew that bought off on the Singer Link P5M-2 trainer made by ACF ( American Car and Foundry) in Baltimore. LCDR Waller, Bud Webb, Ed Casey, to name a few of the other folks. Came back in in May of 1963 and was sent to VS-21 after training in Sept 1963 aboard the USS Kearsarge. Made two more cruises on the Kearsarge in 64 and 66. Did a short tour in Yuma, 66 and 67 and terminated my shore duty and went to VS-38 in Nov. 1967. Was picked up to be on the S-3A FIT (Fleet Introduction Team) in August 1971. Spent the next three and a half years until April 1975 when I made Warrant Officer. Shipped out on the Kitty Hawk cruise and returned from Westpac in Dec. 1975. Put the Hawk through the Puget Sound Ship Yard for a 13 month Overhaul from March 76 to April 1 77. I transferred to the NORIS ASWOC on that date and retired from ther in August 1978.
My email is: navytom@goldenvalleycable.com

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larry r. mickle, e-mail, 06.06.2017 01:51

I was a radio operator on C-12 in VP-44 stationed at Norfolk 55-57. I was shipmates to the crew that was lost in the Azores in 56 and attended their base funeral. I could fill a book with the details of the hundreds of flying hours in the P5M-2's. We were short radio operators and flew on more than one crew. I did not recall any survivors from the Azores crash. They fired the JATO and a wave forced the nose under, and she went on down. Finished my career in the Air Force and retired with 23 yrs in Jun 78.

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Britt Burton, e-mail, 30.12.2016 18:29

Rick Dombrowski,can you contact me? I am the son of ENS Burt Burton, one who died in the 2 Aug 1962 VP-40 P5M crash out of Sangley Point. CDR Vegelahn was pilot, my dad was aboard that aircraft.

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Bill Bethard AE-2, e-mail, 31.10.2016 04:53

I was attached to VP-46 from Jan 1960 to August 1961, while the attached to VP-46 they were flying The Martin P5M-1 until made we made the transition to the Neptune Aviation's P2V. Never made it into a fliht crew ut did electrical maintenance, and worked in the engine build shop fo a few month. I was relesed from active duty just before President Kennedy extended everyone due to the Cuban Mistle Situation. I olny remember the name of one other sqyadron member whose name was Jim Turley, AM-4

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Bruce, e-mail, 23.07.2016 15:04

To; AWCS ken Stephenson - I am a Naval Aviation Historian and can help you with information on the VP-50 SG13 crash in 1967. Please contact me - my contact information can be found on my website at www vpmma org or on linkedin.

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Rick Dombrowski, e-mail, 02.04.2016 23:55

To Bill Clarke's comment: No, I was never bald and in fact, still have a head of hair at 82 years of age. Thanks for asking....

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AWCS ken stephenson, e-mail, 06.03.2016 21:53

Looking for any info on crash of SG13 off sangley in jan 1967. Wife of only two info has questions.

fair winds AWCS

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Carl Klinger, e-mail, 01.01.2016 05:08

I was the radioman on the P5M that crashed on takeoff in the Azores on 11 /11 /1956 and as of this date am the only living crewman from that crew. Am especially interested in contacting Jerry Neves who lived in the Azores when the crash occurred and has some pictures he is willing to share and I would greatly appreciate having. Would appreciate any input as to Jerry Neves whereabouts or contact info.

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Bud Walters, e-mail, 11.06.2022 Carl Klinger

I did two tours with vp-46 flew in crew #3 Had a couple single engine experiences I should know you I was in squadron till 11 /5 /56
Bud Walters may we could talk

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Marlin Martin, e-mail, 31.12.2015 14:43

Martin My Dad, same name, served at Iwakuni in 1958. Who built this plane?

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Jerry H. Neves, e-mail, 26.11.2015 01:08

Hello. I am originally from the Azores Islands, born in Faial island. Came to Ca in 1957. I recall a Martin P5M Marlin crashing on takeoff outside the arbor in Faial. On November 11, 1956.This aircraft had the T tail. It was in Azores along with several other planes and the USS Currituck, AV7. Never forgot witnessing that crash which William Johnson refers to,above. I was 17 at the time. Have photos of the Martin P5Ms in the harbor at Faial that I can email to anyone who might have been crewman of these planes. Regards to all,Jerry

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