Former 131502/USN. In immaculate condition.

A89-307 in its original glossy sea blue finish and without the underwing jet pods installed later in 1959. It and its companion A89-312 diverted to Brisbane because -307 experienced a prop overspeed. Photo by Barry Flood.

This was the first Neptune converted for fire-fighting duties, in 1969. Its original US Navy serial was 124904. It was officially registered to Evergreen Helicopters in Oct 1984, but was never used by them. Reregistered to N208EV in 1985, but reg not painted on and aircraft remained stored. Eventually scrapped there.

After 16 years with the RAAF, A89-311 was flown to Bankstown in 1967 while its fate was decided. In May 1969 that decision was to scrap it and within weeks useful parts had been removed and the airframe dismantled. It was sold for scrap soon after.

No backhoes ripping metal apart when A89-307 was scrapped. Useful parts were removed and the rest dismantled into sections that could moved to a metal recycling plant. Six P-2Es were scrapped at Bankstown.

A89-307 caught just as the sun was peaking over the eastern horizon. It was not enthusiasm that got me to the airport so early but a lift from a neighbour who worked there. In 1967 with my bicycle off the road, it was either a 20-minute pre-dawn trip with the neighbour or a 1½-hour journey by foot, train, bus and finally by foot again for the final mile.

Withdrawn to RAAF Forest Hill as instructional airframe. Destroyed during fire training.

This P-2E or P2V-5, US Navy serial 134722, was delivered to the Netherlands navy as S-31 (displayed as 19-31) in 1954. Under a new serial system she became 096. She was transferred to Portugal in 1960.