PB4Y PRIVATEER

The 'Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer' was a United States Navy patrol bomber derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using unmodified B-24s under the name 'PB4Y-1 Liberator', and the type was considered very successful. However, a fully navalized design was desired, and Consolidated developed a dedicated, long-range patrol bomber in 1943 — the PB4Y-2 Privateer. Convair PB4Y-2 Privateer In 1951 the family was redesignated 'P4Y-2 Privateer'.

Contents

Development

Privateers as air tankers

Operators

Survivors

Specifications (PB4Y-2)

References

External links

Related content

Development

The Privateer is outwardly quite similar to the Liberator. It is slightly longer, and has a tall single vertical tail rather than the B-24's twin tail configuration. Earlier, Ford (which produced B-24s for the U.S. Army Air Corps) had built an experimental variant – the 'B-24K' – using the single tail of a B-23 Dragon. Consolidated B-24N Liberator Handling was improved, and the Air Corps’ proposed 'B-24N' production model was to be built by Ford; the orders, however, were cancelled May 31, 1945 and the B-24N never entered production. The Navy's desire for substantial redesigns, however, brought the new tail assembly within reason.

During development, the defensive armament was also increased by adding a second Martin dorsal turret and a pair of ERCO waist blisters. The Navy eventually took delivery of 739 Privateers, many of which flew in the Korean War. All Navy PB4Y-2s were retired by 1954, though unarmed PB4Y-2G Privateers served until 1958 in Coast Guard service before being auctioned off for salvage.
Although in 1951 the family was redesignated 'P4Y-2 Privateer', the P4Y-1 was an earlier twin engine flying boat, the Consolidated Model 31 (also called the XP4Y).
PB4Y-2 were still being used as drones in the 1950s/early 1960s, designated 'PB4Y-2K' initially and then 'P4Y-2' based names after 1951. They were then redesignated 'QP-4B' under the 1962 United States Tri-Service aircraft designation system, part of the new patrol series, between the P-2 Neptune and the P-3 Orion.

Privateers as air tankers

A limited number of refitted PB4Ys continued in civilian service as air tankers, dropping fire retardant on forest fires throughout the Western United States. On July 18 2002, one such refitted PB4Y, BuNo 66260 (seen in picture to right) operated by Hawkins and Powers Aviation of Wyoming, broke up in flight while fighting a wildfire near Rocky Mountain National Park. Both crew members were killed in the accident, and the FAA temporarily grounded all large air tankers in the region. "Two Die in Crash Fighting Colorado Wildfire" Following the accident, all remaining Privateers were retired.

Operators

★ Canada

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★ United States

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★ United States Navy

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★ United States Coast Guard

Survivors

Several airframes exist in flyable condition as well as in museum collections worldwide.

Specifications (PB4Y-2)

References

External links

★ Aeroweb specs

★ Warbird Alley

★ Globalsecurity.org

★ Aeroweb's PB4Y Location List

★ Aeroweb's PB4Y at Lone Star Flight Museum Lone Star Flight Museum

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