This Privateer is a composite of several sections from different aircraft put together by Hawkins & Powers at their Greybull, WY base before ferrying to Pensacola in 1983, adopting the identity of 66304/N2870G. However several authoritative sources point to the majority coming from 33261/N7682C, incorporating major parts from 66304, 59882 and 66313. What is clear, however, is that it has suffered extensive hurricane damage

Operated by SS & T Aerial Contractors. Crashed near Safford in Arizona on 27 June 1974. Photo by Steve Kraus.

By 1945 several squadrons of Privateers were conducting operations from the Philippines to the Aleutian Islands. The PB4Y-2 with its distinctive single tail was much better equipped than the earlier PB4Y-1, which was basically just an adapted B-24, and stayed in Navy service after the war for missions such as weather reconnaissance and signals intelligence, before being retired around 1955. Several were then modified as civilian air tankers used in fighting forest fires until 2002. This one was tanker 'C30', registered N3739G, now restored in the colours of VPB-120, Shemya Island, AK in 1945

Ex-US Coast Guard Bu.63306. Put up for disposal at NAS Elizabeth City NC August 1958. Sold to Christler & Avery, Greybull WY, registered N7974A. Photo probably taken at Greybull in late 1958 but not confirmed. Converted to fire bomber with Avery Aviation. Crashed into a mountain, McGrath AK on 22 July 1968. Photographer not known.

Actually ex BuNo 66313

Delivered to US Navy as a PB4Y-2 BuAer 59763 and redesignated to P4Y-2 in Jun 1951. Sold to Honduran AF in 1956 as FAH792. Returned to USA as N7237C in 1963 and here retains its FAH colors on the rudder. Flown as a fire bomber with SS & T Aerial Contractors until it crashed near Safford in Arizona on 27 June 1974 killing owner George H. Stell and his son.