Photo by Isao Miyamoto.

Photo by Isao Miyamoto.

This Lockheed Neptune served with the US Navy from 1960 to 1980 as 147969. After retirement from Fleet Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8) based at NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico the aircraft was flown to CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia on Aug. 27, 1980 to join the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum. Painted as the first of 25 RCAF Neptunes delivered in 1955 to replace the Avro Lancaster. California Airframe Parts Co. bought the surviving RCAF Neptunes for parts in 1970, but three were sold to Flying Firemen in Victoria, BC to be air tankers. These aircraft were never operated in Canada and sold in the US.

Lockheed Neptune 147969 served with the US Navy from 1960 to 1980. After retirement from Fleet Composite Squadron Eight (VC-8) based at NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico the aircraft was flown to CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia on Aug. 27, 1980 to join the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum. Painted as the first of 25 RCAF Neptunes delivered in 1955 to replace the Avro Lancaster. California Airframe Parts Co. bought the surviving RCAF Neptunes for parts in 1970, but three were sold to Flying Firemen in Victoria, BC to be air tankers. These aircraft were never operated in Canada and sold in the US.

Any help on the year and/or location is appreciated.

Ex-USNRes VP-94 LZ-4; In flying condition.

In one of the scrapyards near Davis Monthan.

Sitting outside at the Madras Municipal Airport is a rare, well preserved, flying example of a Lockheed P-2 Neptune. This specific one is part of the Erickson Aircraft Collection, and owned by Jack Erickson. This example was retired from the US Navy in 1977 according to the Erickson website.

K25 slide scan. Accepted 1959 as 147948 by USN, retired to MASDC 1975, struck of charge 1978. Civilianized as N80232 for Central Air Service 1989, apparently never used and stored at Avra Valley, cancelled 2018, still present 2022. Sporadically being worked on, tip tanks fitted past 2011 but did not move.

Photographer: Toshiyuki Toda. Ex: 149115

Minden Air Tanker 99 (ex US Navy 147961) sitting toward the eastern end of the airfield. Sadly this aircraft crashed near the airport in rugged terrain on a ferry flight Oct 3 2003 resulting in the loss of both aircrew.

Slide taken by Mr. Akira Watanabe.

Kawasaki built 48 P2V-7 a/c for the JMSDF. All the Japanese P2V-7s were also assigned a US Navy Bureau Number, with this a/c being 149130.

Also assigned US Navy Bureau Number 149115. Slide taken by Mr. Akira Watanabe.

A dreary cold evening in Japan.

This Neptune was formerly RCAF 24113 and was purchased by The Flying Fireman of Victoria and converted to air tanker with a 3,000 gallon retardant tank. In 1972 it was used on a trial basis by the British Columbia Forest service during fire season and the Neptune did well in that role. Transport Canada did not approve the modifications so the Neptune was sold and went to the United States and worked there as an air tanker until it crashed in 1975. Its remains and parts of another Neptune were used in a rebuild and it is now on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona as N14448.

This aircraft was delivered to the RAAF March 1962 and served with 10 Sqn and was broken up at Laverton in 1977. Scanned and cropped from an Instamatic slide.

This Neptune was formerly RCAF 24113 and was purchased by The Flying Fireman of Victoria and converted to air tanker with a 3,000 gallon retardant tank. In 1972 it was used on a trial basis by the British Columbia Forest service during fire season and the Neptune did well in that role. Transport Canada did not approve the modifications so the Neptune was sold and went to the United States and worked there as an air tanker until it crashed in 1975. Its remains and parts of another Neptune were used in a rebuild and it is now on display at the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona as N14448.