VPNAVY Operation Poppy by Captain Edward M. Brittingham
http://www.vpnavy.org
VPNAVY Address

Books VP-4 MiscellaneousBooks

BooksBOOKs: VPNAVY Book Title: Consolidated PB2Y Coronado by CAPT. Richard Hoffman USN (Ret.) dickdot@san.rr.com. The PB2Y Coronado was a large flying boat patrol bomber designed by Consolidated Aircraft. After deliveries of the PBY Catalina, also a Consolidated aircraft, began in 1935, the United States Navy began planning for the next generation of patrol bombers. Orders for two prototypes, the XPB2Y-1 and the Sikorsky XPBS-1, were placed in 1936; the prototype Coronado first flew in December 1937. After trials with the XPB2Y-1 prototype revealed some stability issues, the design was finalized as the PB2Y-2, with a large cantilever wing, twin tail, and four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engines. The two inner engines were fitted with four-bladed reversible pitch propellers; the outer engines had standard three-bladed feathering props. (However, note the three-bladed prop on the inner engine in the picture at the left.) Like the PBY Catalina before it, the PB2Y's wingtip floats retracted to reduce drag and increase range. 192 pages of history, drawings and photos. Copies can be ordered from: Copies can be ordered (as can copies of the P5M Marlin book) from Steve Ginter, 1745 Warfield Cir., Simi Valley, CA 93063, Phone: (805) 584-9732 - http://www.ginterbooks.com. Squadron's mentioned include: FAW-2, FAW-3, FAW-5, FAW-14, VP-1, VP-4, VP-13, VP-15, VP-100, VP-102, VR-2, VR-6, VR-8, VE-1 and VH-1. [26APR2010]


2008 P2V Calendar Thumbnail 2008 CALENDAR "...P2V-7 Neptune Interior Photographs. The nose section (JAN, FEB, MAR and APR are from BUNO: 147951. It was in service with VP-7, VP-23, VP-24, VP-45, VP-56, and VP-66..." Contributed by Bob Self bob.self@comcast.net [29JUN2007]

P2V-7 Neptune Interior Photographs


Where did the P2V's go? For those of you who have often wondered it's in the Arizona desert, static displays on various military bases and a few in air museums around the country. Most have been recycled.

In early 2002, I learned there was a group of P2V's in Missoula, MT being used to fight forest fires. I made an appointment to visit Neptune Aviation and found an aircraft they decided not to convert to a water bomber. It sat in the Arizona desert for decades and had been flown to Missoula a few months prior to my visit.

What I found was Buno # 147695. When active in the Navy it was assigned to VP-31. Other than having had the removal of many cockpit instruments and radios, and the obvious deterioration, it had most of the electronic boxes intact. The after station hatch had been left open and some critter had been making a bed in one of the flight deck seats for a long time. In 2006, the interior pictures were retaken for technical reasons. Then, location was made of a restored nose section of a P2V-7 close by, done by the VP-2 Restoration group. That came from Buno # 147951 and served with VP-7, VP-23, VP-24, VP-45, VP-56, and VP-66. Pictures were taken of the Bow, MAD station, and Cockpit, both Pilot and Co-Pilot positions.

The pictures of these two efforts have just been published into a calendar. It can be previewed by logging onto http://www.thelightcatchers.com/. You can now see some authentic pictures that has been circulating in your thoughts for years. Here's your chance to re-live some experiences of when you were in your 20's and bulletproof. By selecting "Samples" at the top, you can then select "P2V-7 Neptune 2008 Calendar" and preview each calendar page by scrolling through pages 1-4 at the lower left of the screen. You can order the calendar on-line by clicking Order Books at the top and following instructions. If you do not want to order on-line, then email me with your name and phone number and I'll call you at a convenient time with additional ordering information.

Bob Self
bob.self@comcast.net

BooksBOOKs: Title: "Last Battle: The Mayaguez and the End of the Vietnam War" by Ralph Wetterhahn WCadence@aol.com. It covers the history of the final official battle of the Vietnam War, the Mayaguez Incident, in which P-3 Orions from the Philippines and Thailand were major participants. The engagement occurred near Tang Island from May 12-15, 1975, during which P-3s were instrumental in the conduct of combat operations, one of the Orions sustaining AAA battle damage while identifying the hijacked merchant ship, SS Mayaguez. The USS Wilson later recovered the hijacked crew of the US registered container ship. This occurred after a P-3 spotted the crew on a Thai fishing trawler during a 14-hour ground battle which was underway involving US Marines, Sailors, and Air Force crews against a well dug in force of Khmer Rouge defenders. In the process of researching this book in Cambodia, I uncovered the fate of the final three casualties of the war. Squadrons mentioned include: VP-4 VP-17. [29MAR2001]


VP ModelsMODELs: VP-4 PBY-5 Catalina 1/72 Kit Historic Aviation: An updated version of the PBY-2, this amphibious airplane featured retractable landing gear. Plastic kit requires assembly. .....#0009244 $24.95 [15AUG2001]


VP ModelsMODELs: Decal Kits ThumbnailModel decals, VP Aircraft, etc. are available for: VP-4, VP-6, VP-8, VP-14, VP-31, VP-42, VP-45, VP-67, VP-47, VP-49, VP-50, VP-60, VP-64, VP-69, VP-60, VQ-1, Plus more! (MIKE'S HOBBY SHACK) http://mkhobbyshack.bizland.com/ [12AUG99]


MovieMOVIE: "00MAY65--MARKET TIME Saigon, Vietnam Area...Control Number: NWDNM(m)-428-NPC-36102...General Material: Motion picture films...Description Unit: Item...Record Group: 428...Series Designator: NPC...Item Designator: 36102...Title: MARKET TIME Saigon, Vietnam Area...Date: 05/1965...Format: unedited...Scope & Content: 1) MS Two men up on a workstand, working on the port engine of a SP-2H; third man enters scene and climbs up on the workstand at DaNang Airfield.2) MS Looking along port side of a SP-2H, showing men on workstand working on cockpit area, painting decals on the aircraft. G3) MCU Armed crewman standing in FG giving rev up signal; port engine of SP-2H is beginning to turn over. G4) CU SP-2H; man pulls the fire bottle away in FG.5) MCU Plane Captain walking towards the under part of aircraft and climbing aboard.6) MS VP-4, SP-2H aircraft at Ton Son Nhut airfield, Saigon; barbed wire enclosure in FG; plane crews are walking towards their aircraft, framed by barbed wire.7) MS Vietnamese worker working on runway with a shovel; SP-2H is turning up in far BG; second worker comes into scene and looks at the aircraft in BG. G8) MS SP-2H taxiing out; Vietnamese worker lays down his shovel as he watches the aircraft. G9) MLS SP-2H being gassed by gas truck.10) MS Officer and a mechanic up on a workstand looking over the port engine. G11) MS Sailors on a stand painting decals on side of cockpit of SP-2H. G12) MCU Two men painting decals on lower cocknit area. G13) MLS Line of SP-2H"s of VP-4 on the line.14) HA MLS Looking down over top of the SP-2H"s on the line. G15) MS Pilots in the cockpit of SP-2H ready for flight. G16) MS Looking past the port engine to the cockpit area of aircraft ready for another patrol flight; port engine starts up in FG. G17) CU Looking past port engine to the pilot in cockpit; name on cockpit area: "LT. BURKE". G18) MS Pilots in cockpit of SP-2H, port engine revving up in FG. G19) LS SP-2H"s on the line at VP-4 line area; tail end of a Vietnamese truck in left BG. G20) MLS Large tent in mid BG. G21) MS Tent, which is the line shack; pilots and crew come out of the tent in flight gear. G22) MLS Officers and crews walking towards their aircraft. G23) HA MLS Some EC-121K"s parked on the line; other types of aircraft parked in BG.24) HA MS C-123 taxiing on runway; EC-121K parked in mid BG; UH-1E "copter arrives in scene and makes a circle, flies over the EC-121K and towards the BG. G25) HA LS Aircraft on the line; A-1H Navy aircraft taxies by in mid FG. (SV)26) HA LS Many aircraft on the airfield; UH-1E "copter arrives and sits down on the field; ambulance approaches the "copter to take the wounded from the "copter. G27) MLS SP-2H taxiing on runway; UH-1E flies thru the scene. G28) CU Two men in control tower directing aircraft traffic; several types of aircraft parked on line in BG; UH-1E is approaching over the field: SP-2H taxies for take off in BG; PAN along the window with the SP-2H; C-124 is parked in FG outside the tower. G29) AtoG MS PAN Past a Mine Sweeper; PAN, showing a SP-2H in flight over the water. G30) AtoA MLS SP-2H in flight over the water on patrol, flying over a U.S. Mine Sweeper. G...Subject Ref.: PROJ., "Market Time"; PLANES, SP-2H, var. act.; PLANES, Parked, land (SP-2H/EC-121K); AIRFIELDS, For., Viet Nam, Ton Son Nhut (Saigon) DaNangavifield; PLANES, Maint./repair (SP-2H); ENL'D MEN, USN, not rating, Plane Captain; FORTIFICATIONS, Barbed wire enclosure; PLANES, Crew, walking towards SP-2H; SQUADRON, VP-4; PLANES, Taxi, land (SP-2H); FUELING, Planes, ash., SP-2H; ENL'D MEN, USN, Ash., air & plane activities, Viet Nam; AVIATORS, Pilots, USN, in cockpit (SP-2H); PLANES, EC-121K, parked; PLANES, C-123, taxiing; PLANES, Taxi, land (C-123/A-1H/SP-2H); HELICOPTERS, UH-1E, in flgt., lands; HELICOPTERS, in flgt., land (UH-1E); HELICOPTERS, land, land (UH-1E); PLANES, A-1H, taxi; COMM. CENTERS, Control Tower; M.S., Supplies & Equip., ambulance, approaching helicopter; PLANES, In flgt., water (SP-2H); AERIALS, Ships, underway, Mine Vessel, AtoG; RIALS, Planes, SP-2H, AtoA; AVIATORS, Pilots, USN, manning planes; ENL'D MEN, USN...Geographic Ref.: Fr. Indo China, Viet Nam, Saigon area...Use Restrictions: Other. Department of the Navy, Naval Photographic Center...Contact: Motion Picture, Sound, and Video Branch (NWDNM), National Archives at College Park, 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, MD 20740-6001 PHONE: (301) 713-7060 FAX: (301) 713-6904..." NARA ARCHIVAL INFORMATION LOCATOR (NAIL) http://www.archives.gov/index.html


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