USA: Warplanes of the Second World War preserved: Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

The aim of this website is to locate, identify and document Warplanes from the Second World War preserved in the USA.  Many contributors have assisted in the hunt for these aircraft to provide and update the data on this website.  Photos are as credited.  Any errors found here are by the author, and any additions, corrections or amendments to this list of Warplane Survivors of the Second World War in the United States of America would be most welcome and may be e-mailed to the author at hskaarup@rogers.com.

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in flight over Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, 1943.

The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer is an American World War II and Korean War era patrol bomber of the United States Navy derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using B-24s with only minor modifications as the PB4Y-1 Liberator, and along with maritime patrol Liberators used by RAF Coastal Command this type of patrol plane was proven successful. A fully navalized design was desired, and Consolidated developed a dedicated long-range patrol bomber in 1943, designated PB4Y-2 Privateer.[1] In 1951, the type was redesignated P4Y-2 Privateer. A further designation change occurred in September 1962, when the remaining Navy Privateers (all having previously been converted to drone configuration as P4Y-2K) were redesignated QP-4B. (Wikipedia)

(USN Photo)

Two U.S. Navy Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateers from Patrol Squadron 23 (VP-23) in formation over Miami, Florida (USA), in July 1949. The PB4Y-2 in foreground is (BuNo. 60006).

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 59533) of heavy patrol squadron (landplane) VP-HL-3 in 1946/47.

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 59602).

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 59602).

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 59351) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, 11 July 1944.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 665), NATC.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

Variants:

YPB4Y-2 prototypes, three built.

‍PB4Y-2 main production version, 736 built.

‍PB4Y-2B PB4Y-2s equipped to launch ASM-N-2 Bat air-to-surface missiles. Redesignated P4Y-2B in 1951.

‍PB4Y-2M PB4Y-2s converted for weather reconnaissance. Redesignated P4Y-2M in 1951.

‍PB4Y-2S PB4Y-2s equipped with anti-submarine radar. Redesignated P4Y-2S in 1951.

‍PB4Y-2G PB4Y-2s converted for air-sea rescue and weather reconnaissance duties with the U.S. Coast Guard. Redesignated P4Y-2G in 1951.

‍PB4Y-2K PB4Y-2s converted to target drones. Redesignated P4Y-2K in 1951 and QP-4B in 1962.

(Logan Coombs Photo via Bill Larkins)

Consolidated PB4Y-2, Anchorage, Alaska in 1945.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Consolidated P4Y-2G Privateer, Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco.

Survivors:

PB4Y-2 (BuNo. G66302), based in Casa Grande, Arizona. Airworthy.

PB4Y-2 (BuNo. 59701), Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting in Greybull, Wyoming.

PBY4Y-2 (BuNo. 59819), Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

PBY4Y-2 (BuNo. 59876), Yankee Air Museum in Belleville, Michigan.

PBY4Y-2 (BuNo. 59882), Museum of Flight and Aerial Firefighting in Greybull, Wyoming.

PBY4Y-2 (BuNo. 59932), (nose only) Over Exposed, The National WWII Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. Displayed as a B-24D.

PBY4Y-2 (BuNo. 66261), National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

PBY4Y-2 (BuNo. 66300), Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.

(wallycacsabre Photo)

(Airwolfhound Photo)

(Tomas Del Coro Photos)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. G66302), based in Casa Grande, Arizona. Airworthy.

(kitmasterbloke Photos)

Consolidated PBY4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 59819) , Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.

(Gillfoto Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 5981)9 with NA-64 Yale, Pima Air and Space Museum, Tucson, Arizona.

(USN Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2S Privateer (BuNo 66304) of Patrol Squadron VP-23, c1950. This aircraft is today on display at the National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida.

(Tomas Del Coro Photo)

(NMNA Photo)

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer (BuNo. 66304), 202, F.  National Museum of Naval Aviation, Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida.

(kitmasterbloke Photo)

(Alan Wilson Photo)

Built as a PB4Y-2 for US Navy service with Bureau No 66300. Later transferred to the US Coast Guard, still with serial No 66300. Sold in 1958 and registered as N2872G, she was converted into a ‘Super Privateer’ with R-2600 Cyclone engines. She was then used for fire fighting, becoming tanker No ‘B24’ with Avery Aviation. She joined Hawkins & Powers in 1970 as tanker No ‘124’ and operated with them until 2002. She was sold to Yanks in 2006 when H&P closed down and was delivered to Chino in November 2008. She remains airworthy, although is currently stored outside. The museum has located original side blisters and will eventually restore her to military condition. Yanks Air Museum, Chino, California.

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