Lockheed P-2 Neptune
The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (originally designated P2V until September 1962) was a Maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. It was developed for the United States Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the Lockheed P-3 Orion. Designed as a land-based aircraft, the Neptune never made a carrier landing, although a small number of aircraft were converted and deployed as carrier launched stop-gap nuclear bombers which would have to ditch or recover at land bases. The type was successful in export and saw service with several armed forces.
Design and development
Development began early in World War II, but compared to other aircraft in development at the time, it was considered a low priority. It was not until 1944 that the program went into full swing. A major factor in the design was ease of manufacture and maintenance, and this may have been a major factor in the type's long life and worldwide success. The first aircraft flew in 1945. Production began in 1946, and the aircraft was accepted into service in 1947.
It was one of the first aircraft to be fitted in operational service with both piston and jet engines. The Convair B-36, several Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter, Fairchild C-123 Provider, and Avro Shackleton aircraft were also so equipped. The jet engines were fitted with intake doors that could be closed for economical piston-engine only searching operations. The jet engines could be employed for sprint or short field take-off, but were seldom used in typical operations.
Normal crew access was via a ladder on the aft bulkhead of the nose wheel well to a hatch on the left side of the wheel well, then forward to the observer nose or up through another hatch to the main deck. There was also a hatch in the floor of the after fuselage, near the sonobuoy chutes.
Operational history
Early Cold War
Prior to the introduction of the P-3 Orion in the mid-1960s the Neptune was the primary US land-based anti-submarine patrol craft, intended to be operated as the hunter of a '"Hunter-Killer" group, with Destroyers employed as killers. Several features aided this task:
- Sonobouys could be launched from a station in the aft portion of the fuselage and monitored by radio
- Some models were equipped with "pointable" twin .50 caliber machine guns in the nose, most had a forward observation bubble with an observer seat, a feature seen in several of the images.
- A Magnetic Anomaly Detector was fitted in an extended tail, producing a paper chart. Unmarked charts were not classified, but those with annotations were classified as secret.
- A belly-mounted surface search radar enabled detection of surfaced and snorkeling submarines at considerable distances.
As the P-2 was replaced in the U.S. Navy by the P-3A Orion in active Fleet squadrons in the early and mid-1960s, the P-2 continued to remain operational in the Naval Air Reserve through the mid 1970s, primarily in its SP-2H version. As active Fleet squadrons transitioned to the P-3B and P-3C in the mid- and late-1960s and early 1970s, the Naval Reserve P-2s were eventually replaced by P-3As and P-3Bs and the P-2 exited active US naval service. VP-23 was the last active duty patrol squadron to operate the SP-2H, retiring its last Neptune on 20 February 1970.[1]
Nuclear bomber
At the end of World War II, the US Navy felt the need to acquire a nuclear strike capability to maintain its political influence. In the short term, carrier-based aircraft were the best solution. Nuclear munitions at that time were bulky and required a large aircraft to carry them. The Navy improvised a carrier-based nuclear strike aircraft by modifying the P2V Neptune for carrier takeoff using jet assisted takeoff (JATO) rocket boosters, with initial takeoff tests in 1948. But the Neptune couldn't land on a carrier, so the crew either had to make their way to a friendly land base after a strike, or ditch in the sea near a US Navy vessel. It was replaced in this emergency role by the North American AJ Savage the first nuclear strike aircraft that was fully capable of carrier launch and recovery operations; it was also short lived in that role as the Navy was adopting fully jet powered nuclear strike aircraft.[2]
Covert operations P2V-7U/RB-69A variants
In 1954 under Project Cherry, the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) obtained five newly built P2V-7 and converted these into P2V-7U/RB-69A variants by Lockheed's Skunk Works at Hangar B5 in Burbank, California, for the CIA's own private fleet of covert ELINT/ferret aircraft. Later to make up P2V-7U/RB-69A operational losses, the CIA obtained and converted two existing US Navy P2V-7s, one in September 1962, and one in December 1964 to P2V-7U/RB-69A Phase VI standard, and also acquired an older P2V-5 from US Navy as training aircraft in 1963. Test flights done by lead aircraft at Edwards AFB from 1955 to 1956, all the aircraft painted with dark sea blue color but with USAF markings. In 1957 one P2V-7U was sent to Eglin AFB for testing aircraft performance at low level and under adverse conditions. The initial two aircraft were sent to Europe, based at Wiesbaden, West Germany, but were later withdrawn in 1959 when the CIA reduced its covert aircraft assets in Europe. The CIA sent the other two P2V-7U/RB-69As to Hsinchu Air Base, Taiwan, where by December 1957, they were given to a "Black Op" unit, the 34th Squadron, better known as the Black Bat Squadron, of the Republic of China Air Force (|ROCAF/Taiwan); these were painted in ROCAF/Taiwan markings. The ROCAF/Taiwan P2V-7U/RB-69A's mission was to conduct low level penetration flights into mainland China to conduct ELINT/ferret missions including mapping out China's air defense networks, inserting agents via airdrop, and dropping leaflets and supplies. The agreement for plausible deniability between US and ROC government meant the RB-69A would be manned by ROCAF/Taiwan crew while conducting operational missions, but would be manned by CIA crew when ferrying RB-69A out of Taiwan or other operational area to US.
The P2V-7U/RB-69A flew with ROCAF/Taiwan Black Bat Squadron over China from 1957 to November 1966. All five original aircraft (two crashed in South Korea, three shot down over China) were lost with all hands on board. In January 1967, two remaining RB-69As flew back to NAS Alameda, California, and were converted back to regular US Navy P2H/P2V-7 ASW aircraft configurations.[3][4]Most of the 34th Squadron's Black Op missions still remain classified by the CIA, although a CIA internal draft history, Low-Level Technical Reconnaissance over Mainland China (1955-66), reference CSHP-2.348, written in 1972 that covers CIA/ROCAF/Taiwan 34th Squadron's Black Op missions is known to be in existence but would not be declassified by the CIA until after 2022.[5]
Vietnam War
During the Vietnam War, the Neptune was used by the US Navy as a gunship, an overland reconnaissance and sensor deployment aircraft, and in its traditional role as a maritime patrol aircraft. The Neptune was also utilized by the U.S. Army's 1st Radio Research Company (Aviation), call sign "Crazy Cat," located at Cam Ranh Bay, as an electronic "ferret" aircraft. Observation Squadron 67 (VO-67), call sign "Lindy", was the only P-2 Neptune aircraft squadron to ever receive the Presidential Unit Citation. VO-67 lost three OP-2E aircraft and 20 aircrew to ground fire during its secret missions into Laos and Vietnam in 1967–68. The ROCAF/Taiwan's secret 34th Squadron's RB-69A/P2V-7U ELINT/SIGINT aircraft flew a low level electronic reconnaissance from Da Nang, flying over Thanh Hoa province on 20 August 1963 to investigate an air resupply drop zone that turned out to be a set trap for a Republic of China Air Force (ROCAF) C-123B airdrop mission 10 days earlier due to the air-inserted agents having been captured and turned. Next year, an air defense radar mapping mission was also flown by 34th Squadron's RB-69A/P2V-7U aircraft into North Vietnam and Laos on the night of 16 March 1964. The RB-69A took off from Da Nang, flew up the Gulf of Tonkin before coasting in near Haiphong, then flew down North Vietnam and the Laos border. The mission was requested by SOG for helping plan the insert or resupply of agents. Seven AAA sites, 14 early warning radar sites and two CGI radar signals were detected.[5]
Falklands War
The Argentine Naval Aviation had received at least 16 Neptunes in different variants since 1958 including eight ex-RAF for use in the Escuadrilla Aeronaval de Exploración (English: Naval exploration squadron). They were intensively used in 1978 during the Operation Soberania against Chile including over the Pacific Ocean.[6]
During the Falklands War (Spanish: Guerra de las Malvinas) in 1982, the last two airframes in service (2-P-111 and 2-P-112) played a key role of reconnaissance and aiding Dassault Super Étendards, particularly on the 4 May attack against HMS Sheffield. The lack of spare parts, caused by the US having enacted an arms embargo in 1977 due to the Dirty War, led to the type being retired before the end of the war; Argentine Air Force C-130 Hercules took over the task of searching for targets for strike aircraft.
In 1983, the unit was reformed with Lockheed L-188 Electras modified for maritime surveillance; in 1994 these were replaced with P-3B Orions.
Other military operators
The Canadian version of the Lockheed Neptune (P2V-7) served in the RCAF Maritime Air Command from 1955, as an anti-submarine, anti-shipping and maritime reconnaissance aircraft, being fitted with just piston engines initially. In 1957, the Neptunes had two underwing Westinghouse J34 jet engine pods installed. This conversion provided additional thrust for an improved takeoff, increased endurance by allowing higher weights of fuel and generally improved the overall performance of the aircraft. Armament included two torpedoes, mines, depth charges, bombs carried internally plus unguided rockets mounted externally underwing. A total of 25 Neptunes served with nos. 404, 405 and 407 Squadrons. Upon unification of the Canadian Forces in 1968, the Neptune was re-designated the CP-122 and was replaced by the Canadair CP-107 Argus the same year.[7]
The Royal Air Force Coastal Command operated 52 P2V-5s, designated Neptune MR.1s as a stop-gap modern maritime patrol aircraft until the Avro Shackletons could enter service.[8] They were used from between 1952[9] and March 1957,[10] being used for Airborne Early Warning experiments as well as for maritime patrol.[11]
In Australia, the Netherlands, and the US Navy, its tasks were taken over by the larger and more capable Lockheed P-3 Orion, and by the 1970s, it was only in use by patrol squadrons in the US Naval Reserve. The US Naval Reserve abandoned its last Neptunes in 1978, those aircraft also having been replaced by the P-3 Orion. By the 1980s, the Neptune had fallen out of military use in most purchasing nations, replaced by newer aircraft.
In Japan, the Neptune was license-built from 1966 by Kawasaki as the P-2J, with the piston engines replaced by IHI-built T64 turboprops. Kawasaki continued their manufacture much later than Lockheed did; the P-2J remained in service until 1984.
Civilian firefighting
P-2/P2Vs are currently employed in aerial firefighting roles by operators such as Aero Union and Neptune Aviation Services and can carry 2,400 gal (9,084 l) of retardant with a service life of 15,000 hours. Neptune proposes to replace them with Bombardier Q200 and Q300 aircraft which are estimated to have a service life of 80,000 hours.
"The Truculent Turtle"
The third production P2V-1 was chosen for a record-setting mission, ostensibly to test crew endurance and long-range navigation but also for publicity purposes: to display the capabilities of the Navy's latest patrol bomber. Its nickname was "The Turtle," which was painted on the aircraft's nose (along with a cartoon of a turtle smoking a pipe pedaling a device attached to a propeller). However, in press releases immediately before the flight, the Navy referred to it as "The Truculent Turtle".[12]
Loaded with fuel in extra tanks fitted in practically every spare space in the aircraft, "The Turtle" set out from Perth, Australia to the United States. With a crew of four (and a nine-month-old gray kangaroo, a gift from Australia for the Washington, D.C. zoo) the aircraft set off on 9 September 1946, with a RATO (rocket-assisted takeoff). Two and a half days (55h, 18m) later, "The Turtle" touched down in Columbus, Ohio, 11,236.6 mi (18,083.6 km) from its starting point. It was the longest unrefueled flight made to that point - 4,000 mi (6,400 km) longer than the USAF's Boeing B-29 Superfortress record. This would stand as the absolute unrefueled distance record until 1962 (beaten by a USAF Boeing B-52 Stratofortress), and would remain as a piston-engined record until 1986 when Dick Rutan's Voyager would break it in the process of circumnavigating the globe. "The Turtle" is preserved at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola.
Variants
Lockheed produced seven main variants of the P2V. In addition, Kawasaki built the turboprop-powered P-2J in Japan. Model names after the 1962 redesignation are given in parentheses.
- XP2V-1
- Prototype, two built.
- P2V-1
- First production model with R-3350-8A engine and four-bladed propellers; 14 built.
- XP2V-1
- One P2V-1 modified as a prototype of an improved variant with water injected R-3350-24W engines.
- P2V-2
- Second production model with R-3350-24W engines and three-bladed propellers, had various combinations of gun turrets including a nose turret to replace the gunner position used on the P2V-1, 81 built,
- P2V-2N "Polar Bear"
- Two P2V-2s modified for polar exploration with ski landing gear and early MAD gear.
- P2V-2S
- One P2V-2 modified as a prototype anti-submarine variant with an APS-20 search radar.
- P2V-3
- Modied variant with a 3,200hp R-3350-26W engines; 53 built.
- P2V-3B
- Conversions from other P2V-3 models, including P2V-3C and -3W, fitted with the ASB-1 Low Level Radar Bombing System; 16 converted.
- P2V-3C
- Eleven P2V-3s and one P2V-2 modified with rocket assisted takeoff as a stop-gap carrier-based nuclear armed bomber until the A3J arrived, not intended to return for a landing on a carrier.[13]
- P2V-3W
- Airborne Early Warning variant, APS-20 search radar; 30 built.
- P2V-3Z
- VIP combat transport; two modified from P2V-3s.
- P2V-4 (P-2D)
- Upgraded powerplant and fuel capacity and the first variant with tip tanks; 52 built.
- P2V-5
- Replaced solid nose with turret, APS-20 and APS-8 search radars standard, jettisonable wingtip fuel tanks. Late models featured observation nose and MAD gear in place of nose and tail turrets; 424 built.
- P2V-5F (P-2E)
- Modification with two J34 jet engines to increase power on take-off, J34 engines and R-3350 had common fuel system burning AvGas rather than having dedicated jet fuel (as did all Neptunes with jets [less Kawasaki P-2J]), deleted wing rocket stubs, increased bombload.
- AP-2E
- Designation applied to P2V-5F with special SIGINT/ELINT equipment used by the US Army's 1st Radio Research Company at Cam Ranh Bay.
- P2V-5FD (DP-2E)
- P2V-5F with target towing or drone launch capability, various defensive equipment and all weaponry deleted.
- P2V-5FE (EP-2E)
- P2V-5F with Julie/Julie ASW gear but without other changes of P2V-5FS (SP-2E). Assigned almost exclusively to USNR.
- P2V-5FS (SP-2E)
- P2V-5F with Julie/Jezebel ASW gear.
- OP-2E
- Modified for use as part of Operation Igloo White with Observation Squadron 67 (VO-67); only 12 converted.
- P2V-6 (P-2F)
- Aerial mine delivery capability, APS-70 search radar, upgraded powerplant; 83 built.
- P2V-6B
- AUM-N-2 Petrel missile launch capability.
- P2V-6M (MP-2F)
- Formerly P2V-6B, 16 produced; note that originally the M mission modifier prefix stood for missile carrier, but was eventually dropped, becoming the role-modifier for multi-mission aircraft.
- P2V-6F (P-2G)
- P2V-6/P-2F refitted with J34 jet engines.
- P2V-6T (TP-2F)
- Trainer version with armament deleted, wingtip tanks often deleted.
- P2V-7 (P-2H)
- Last Neptune variant produced by Lockheed, upgraded powerplant, jet pods standard, improved wingtip tanks, APS-20 search radar, bulged cockpit canopy, early fitted with nose and tail turrets, but replaced with observation nose and MAD tail, dorsal turret also fitted early and replaced with observation bubble; 311 built (including 48 assembled in Japan by Kawasaki for JMSDF). P2V-7/P-2H and mods were only Neptunes with raised cockpit canopies.
- P2V-7B
- 15 aircraft with non-glazed gun nose for Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service (MLD serial 200-214). Subsequently modified to P2V-7S/SP-2H (augmented by 4 SP-2H from Aéronavale (MLD serial 215-218)
- P2V-7LP (LP-2J)
- (No relation to Kawasaki P-2J)
- Ski landing gear, JATO provisions; four built.
- P2V-7S (SP-2H)
- Additional ASW/ECM equipment including Julie/Jezebel gear.
- P2V-7U
- Naval designation of the RB-69A variant.
- AP-2H
- Specialized ground attack variant for Heavy Attack Squadron 21 (VAH-21); only four converted.
- RB-69A
- Least known of the P2V Neptune family. Five built, two converted for CIA covert operations, obtained with USAF help and operated by ROCAF/Taiwan's 34th Squadron. Aerial reconnaissance/ELINT platform, modular sensor packages fitted depended on the mission needs. Originally fitted with Westinghouse APQ-56 Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR), the APQ-24 search radar, the Fairchild Mark IIIA cameras, the APR-9/13 radar intercept receiver, the QRC-15 DF system, the APA-69A DF display, the APA-74 pulse analyser, the Ampex tape recorder, the System 3 receiver to intercept enemy communications, the APS-54 RWR, a noise jammer, the RADAN system doppler radar navigation, and others. In May 1959, a upgrade program known as Phase VI was approved, and added the ATIR air-to-air radar jammer, replacing APR-9/13 with ALQ-28 ferret system, the QRC-15, 3 14-channel recorders and 1 7-channel high speed recorder to record ELINT systems, the K-band receiver, the ASN-7 navigation computer replacing RADAN, and Fulton Skyhook system.[14]
- C-139
- The C-139 designation was applied to a planned transport version of the Neptune, which was cancelled before any aircraft were built.
- Neptune MR.1
- British designation of P2V-5; 52 delivered.
- CP-122 Neptune
- RCAF designation of P2V-7.(jet pod not initially fitted to 25 P2V-7 aircraft delivered to RCAF, but subsequently retrofitted)[15]
- Kawasaki P-2J (P2V-Kai)
- Japanese variant produced by Kawasaki for JMSDF with T64 turboprop engines, various other improvements; 82 built.
Operators
Military operators
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- France
- Japan
- Netherlands
- Portugal
- Republic of China
- United Kingdom
- United States
Civilian operators
Survivors
There are a few Neptunes that have been restored and are on display in museums and parks.[17]
- SP-2E
- Historic Aircraft Restoration Projects, Brooklyn, New York, USA; Bureau Number (BuNo)131542* SP-2E is at Floyd Bennett Field Brooklyn, Hangar "B"
- NAS Jacksonville Memorial Park, NAS Jacksonville, Florida, USA; BuNo 131410
- Gate guard, former NAS Brunswick, Maine, USA; BuNo 128392
- Gate guard, Moffett Federal Airfield (former NAS Moffett Field), California, USA; BuNo 128393
- United States Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama, USA; Army serial number 131485 / Navy BuNo 131485
- SP-2H
- Museo Aeronaval (MUAN) of Argentine Naval Aviation: SP-2H serial 2-P-112 is the one which tracked HMS Sheffield [18][19]
- National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, Florida, USA; BuNo 141234 and BuNo 141561
- Gate guard, Marine Corps Base Hawaii (former MCAS Kaneohe Bay), Hawaii, USA; BuNo 150279 (relocated from former NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii)
- Gate guard, MVK De Kooy, The Netherlands. (Reg. 216/V)
- In storage, awaiting restoration. Militaire Luchtvaart Museum Soesterberg, The Netherlands. (Reg. 201/V)
- One tailsection. Hato, Curaçao.
- SP-2H, former Dutch Navy, number 204, on display on grounds of RAF Cosford Museum, Shropshire, England.[20]
- P-2H
- P2V
- P2V-7, Quonset Air Museum, Quonset Point, North Kingston, Rhode Island, USA; BuNo unknown, not airworthy
- P2V-1 "Truculent Turtle" aircraft, National Museum of Naval Aviation, NAS Pensacola, Florida, USA; BuNo 89082
- Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona, USA; BuNo 147957
- Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3761, Baltimore, Ohio, USA; on display on grounds; BuNo unknown
- P2V-7 Tillamook Air Museum, Tillamook, Oregon, USA; BuNo unknown, Airworthy
- P2V-7, Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, Illawarra Regional Airport, New South Wales, Australia. Ex-Royal Australian Air Force A89-273, now civil registered VH-IOY. BuNo 149073, Airworthy.[22]
Specifications
P2V-3
Data from Combat Aircraft since 1945[23]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
- Rockets: 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR in removable wing-mounted pods
- Bombs: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) including free-fall bombs, depth charges, and torpedoes
P-2H (P2V-7)
Data from Combat Aircraft since 1945[23]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
- Rockets: 2.75 in (70 mm) FFAR in removable wing-mounted pods
- Bombs: 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) including free-fall bombs, depth charges, and torpedoes
Accidents and incidents
- On 22 June 1955, a P2V-5 of VP-9 (BuNo 131515), flying a patrol mission from Kodiak, Alaska, was attacked over the Bering Straits by two Soviet Air Forces MiG-15s. The P2V crash-landed on St. Lawrence Island after an engine was set afire. Of the eleven crew members, including pilot Richard F. Fischer, co-pilot David M. Lockhard, Donald E. Sonnek, Thaddeus Maziarz, Martin E. Berg, Eddie Benko, David Assard and Charles Shields, four sustained injuries due to gunfire and six were injured during the landing. The US demanded $724,947 in compensation; the USSR finally paid half this amount.[N 3]
[N 4]
- On 25 March 1960, an RB-69A/P2V-7U(7101/140442/54-4040) crashed into a hill near Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, during a low level ferry flight from Hsinchu, Taiwan to stage area in Kunsan, South Korea. All 14 aircrew on board were killed.[5]
- On 6 November 1961, an RB-69A/P2V-7U(7099/140440/54-4039) conducting a low level penetration flight over mainland China was shot down by ground fire over Liaodong peninsula. All 14 aircrew on board were killed in action.[5]
- On 8 January 1962, a RB-69A/P2V-7U(7097/140438/54-4038) crashed into the Korea Bay while conducting ELINT and leaflet dropping missions. All 14 aircrew on board were killed in action.[5]
- On 19 June 1963, a RB-69A/P2V-7U(7105/141233/54-4041) was conducting ELINT mission over mainland China, and was shot down by PLAAF MiG-17PF over Linchuan, Jiangxi, after intercepted repeatedly by multiple MiG-17PFs and Tu-4Ps. All 14 aircrew on board were killed in action.[5]
- On 11 June 1964, a RB-69A/P2V-7U (7047/135612/54-4037) was conducting ELINT mission over mainland China, and was shot down by PLAN-AF MiG-15 over Shandong peninsula, after intercepted by MiG-15s and Il-28s. All 13 aircrew on board were killed in action.[5]
- On 5 September 2008, a Neptune Aviation Services Lockheed Neptune registered N4235T crashed soon after takeoff from Reno/Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The left engine and then left wing were seen to catch fire before the aircraft crashed. All three crew members on board were killed.[28]
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Related lists
References
- Notes
- ^ During the Korean War, the US Navy operated a number of specially equipped Lockheed P2V Neptune’s flying ELINT sorties against the Soviet Union...[24]
- ^ P2V-5 (BuNo 127744) was shot down by Chinese antiaircraft fire near Swatow.[25]
- ^ USN P2V-5 Neptune of VP-9 (BuNo 131515)[26]
- ^ (This was the only incident in which the Soviet Union admitted any responsibility.[27])
- Citations
- ^ "Third VP-22." Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2. Retrieved: 22 April 2011.
- ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 458.
- ^ Baugher, Joe. "US Navy/US Marine Corps Aircraft Bureau Numbers (Third Series: 15)." www.joebaugher.com. Retrieved: 4 October 2010.
- ^ Baugher, Joe. "US Navy/US Marine Corps Aircraft Bureau Numbers (Third Series: 19)." www.joebaugher.com. Retrieved: 4 October 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f g Pocock, Chris. The Black Bats: CIA Spy Flights Over China From Taiwan, 1951–1969. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2010. ISBN 978-0764335136.
- ^ "AS Neptune." Historia y Arqueologia Marítima. Retrieved: 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Lockheed Neptune." rcaf.com. Retrieved: 15 July 2010.
- ^ Howard Air Pictorial August 1972, p. 284.
- ^ Howard Air Pictorial August 1972, p. 285.
- ^ Howard Air Pictorial September 1972, p. 360.
- ^ Howard Air Pictorial August 1972, pp. 285–286.
- ^ Sullivan 1985, pp. 7–9.
- ^ Goebel, Greg. "Lockheed P2V Neptune." Vectorsite. Retrieved: 30 June 2011.
- ^ Goebel, Greg. "The Lockheed P2V Neptune & Martin Mercator." vectorsite.net, 1 December 2009. Retrieved: 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Canadian Military Aircraft Designations." Designation-systems.net. Retrieved: 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Lockheed SP-2H Neptune" (in Spanish). Historia y Arqueologia Marítima website. Retrieved: 15 July 2010.
- ^ "Lockheed P-2s On Display." AeroWeb. Retrieved: 3 October 2010.
- ^ "SP-2H serial 2-P-112." Museo Aeronaval. Retrieved: 3 October 2010.
- ^ "Google maps." google.com. Retrieved: 3 October 2010.
- ^ "Lockheed SP-2H Neptune." RAF Museum, Cosford. Retrieved: 22 April 2011.
- ^ "Lockheed RB-69A Neptune." Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB. Retrieved: 3 October 2010.
- ^ "Lockheed Neptune P2V-7 A89-273 VH-IOY." Historical Aircraft Restoration Society, 2 May 2009. Retrieved: 22 April 2011.
- ^ a b Wilson 2000, p. 82.
- ^ "Lockheed P2V/RB69A Neptune." Spyflight. Retrieved: 22 April 2011.
- ^ "Cold War Incidents Involving U.S. Navy Aircraft, Date: 18 Jan 1953 Aircraft: P2V-5 Squadron: VP-22." American Military and Naval History. Retrieved: 22 April 2011.
- ^ van Waarde, Jan. "VP-9 Mishap." VPNAVY, 24 January 2011. Retrieved: 22 April 2011.
- ^ "Cold War Incidents Involving U.S. Navy Aircraft, Date: 22 Jun 1955 Aircraft: P2V-5 Squadron: VP-9." American Military and Naval History. Retrieved: 22 April 2011.
- ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 75296." Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved: 11 January 2011.
- Bibliography
- Donald, David, ed. "Lockheed P2V Neptune". The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. New York: Barnes & Noble Books, 1997. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5
- Eden, Paul. "Lockheed P2V Neptune". Encyclopedia of Modern Military Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2004. ISBN 1-90468-784-9.
- Howard, Peter J. "The Lockheed Neptune in R.A.F. Service: Part 1". Air Pictorial, Vol. 34, No. 8, August 1972, pp. 284–289, 294.
- Howard, Peter J. "The Lockheed Neptune in R.A.F. Service: Part 2". Air Pictorial, Vol. 34, No. 9, September 1972, pp. 356–360.
- Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London: Putnam, Second edition, 1976. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.
- Sullivan, Jim, P2V Neptune in action. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, 1985. ISBN 978-0897471602.
- Wilson, Stewart. Combat Aircraft since 1945. Fyshwick, ACT, Australia: Aerospace Publications Pty Ltd., 2000. ISBN 1-875671-50-1.
External links
|
|
|
Manufacturer
designations |
|
Basic Model
Numbers
|
|
|
|
Lockheed-California
Temporary Design
Numbers
|
|
|
|
| By role |
|
Airliners and
civil transports
|
|
|
|
Military transports
|
|
|
|
Attack and bombers
|
|
|
|
Drones/UAVs
|
|
|
|
EW and
reconnaissance
|
|
|
|
Fighters
|
|
|
|
Helicopters
|
|
|
|
Maritime patrol
|
|
|
|
Trainers
|
|
|
|
Experimental
|
|
|
|
| Names |
|
|
USN/ USMC patrol aircraft designations 1923-1962
|
|
| Patrol |
|
|
| Patrol Bomber |
|
|
| Patrol Torpedo Bomber |
|
|
|
|
|
| Bomber |
|
|
| Light bomber |
|
|
| Heavy bomber |
|
|
| Long-range bomber |
|
|
See also: B-20 (redesignation of A-20 in 1948) · B-26 (redesignation of A-26 in 1948) · Post-1962 list |
|
|
|
|
| General |
|
|
| Military |
|
|
| Accidents/incidents |
|
|
| Records |
|
|