P4Y-2 Privateer Tankers

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Consolidated developed the PB4Y-2 Privateer anti-submarine patrol bomber from the B-24 Liberator. The fuselage was stretched and a single vertical stabilizer replaced the twin tails of the Liberator. The turbochargers were deleted from the R-1830 radials because the Privateers would operate at relatively low altitude. As originally equipped, Privateers had six twin-gun turrets.

In 1951 the Navy eliminated the Patrol Bomber category and the designation of the Privateers became P4Y-2. A number of Privateers were transferred to the Coast Guard and were redesignated P4Y-2G. These Privateers had their turrets removed. The nose and waist turret openings were glazed over.

Transaire Spraying Company of Canyon, Texas converted several P4Y-2G Privateers into fire-fighting tankers in the 1970s. The R-1830 radial engines were replaced with more powerful R-2800 radials.

Hawkins & Powers of Greybull, Wyoming maintained five Privateer tankers in airworthy condition until recently. Tragically, tanker #123 shed a wing and crashed near Estes Park, Colorado on July 18, 2002, killing pilots Rick L. Schwartz and Milt Stollak. Hawkins-Powers has four remaining airworthy Privateers.

c30, N3739G, BuNo 59819

P4Y-2 c30, N3739G at the Goleta Tanker Station in September 1979.

P4Y-2 c30, N3739G at Gila Bend Indian Reservation Memorial Airport, Arizona on December 30, 1981.

P4Y-2 c30, N3739G has already shut down its outboard engines as it taxis to the end of runway 07 at Santa Barbara in July 1985.

Tanker c30 has been retired from fire-fighting. It is being restored to military configuration by the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston, Texas.

ArmyAirForces.com has a page of pictures of the restoration of N3739G

c50, N7237C, BuNo 59763

P4Y-2 c50, N7237C at Marana Air Park, Arizona on February 11, 1972. It still bears markings that it acquired while it was in the service of the Fuerza Aérea Hondureña.

P4Y-2 c50, N7237C at Tuscon, Arizona on November 12, 1973.

According to the FAA database, N7237C has been owned by Ronald Sathre of Union City, California since 1994. Mr. Sathre organized the International PB4Y Association.

121, N2871G, BuNo 66302

P4Y-2 121, N2871G at the Goleta Tanker Station in October 1981.

P4Y-2 121, N2871G at the Goleta Tanker Station in October 1981. Note P4Y-2, N7620C 123 parked in the background.

123, N7620C, BuNo 66260

P4Y-2 123, N7620C at the Goleta Tanker Station in October 1981.

P4Y-2 123, N7620C takes off from Santa Barbara on July 10, 1983.

P4Y-2 123, N7620C on approach to Santa Barbara on July 13, 1999.

P4Y-2 123, N7620C on approach to Santa Barbara on July 13, 1999.

Tanker 123 shed a wing and crashed near Estes Park, Colorado on July 18, 2002, killing its crew of two.

124, N2872G, BuNo 66300

P4Y-2 124, N2872G at Santa Barbara on July 30, 1980.

P4Y-2 124, N2872G at Fox Field Tanker Station on November 26, 1980.

P4Y-2 124, N2872G taking off from Fox Field on November 26, 1980.

P4Y-2 124, N2872G at Santa Barbara on October 4, 1987.

Video of P4Y-2 Privateer N2872G Tanker 124 operating from the tanker station at the Santa Barbara Airport in October 1987.

127, N6884C, BuNo 59701

P4Y-2 127, N6884C at the Goleta Tanker Station on November 28, 1980.

P4Y-2 127, N6884C at the Goleta Tanker Station on November 28, 1980.

Links:

Hawkins & Powers web site

Hawkins & Powers airplane photo gallery

There are PB4Y-2 Privateers on display at:

National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola NAS, Florida

Yankee Air Museum, Ypsilanti, Michigan

Lone Star Flight Museum, Galveston, Texas

Joe Baugher's history of the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

The PB4Y Flightline

More Tanker Photos

Aerial tankers

Visit the web site of the Aerial Firefighting Industry Association

Visit the web site of the Associated Airtanker Pilots

The Cleveland National Forest web site provides specifications for the different types of aerial tankers.

Send a message to Brian.

Go to home page of the Goleta Air and Space Museum.