About N2871G

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PB4Y-2

Privateer

Consolidated PB4Y-2 ‘Privateer’ / P4Y-2 / ‘Super Privateer’ / Tanker 121

BuNo 66302 N2871G

Number Built: 739

Number Still Airworthy: 1

Description:

Manufacturer: Consolidated

Base Model: PB4Y

Designation: PB4Y

Version: -2G

Nickname: Privateer

Designation System: U.S. Navy / Marines

Designation Period: 1935-1962

Basic Role: Patrol Bomber

Specifications:

Length: 74’7” 22.7 m

Height: 30’1” 9.1 m

Wingspan: 110’ 33.5 m

Wing area: 1,048.0 sq ft 97.3 sq m

Empty Weight: 37,485 lb 17,000 kg

Gross Weight: 70,000 lb 29,478 kg

Propulsion

No. of Engines: 4

Powerplant: Wright R2600-35

Horsepower: Derated to 1350

Performance

Range: 2,800 miles 4,508 km

Cruise Speed: 200 mph 225km/h 175kt

Max Speed: 237 mph 381 km/h 205 kt

Ceiling: 20,700 ft 6,309 m

Other Known Serial Numbers

59350 / 59923, 59924, 59926, 59929 / 59937, 59939 / 59944, 59946 / 59948, 59950 /

59954, 59970 / 60009, 66245 / 66324, 66325 / 66394, 66795 / 67054, 76839 / 77138

The United States Navy started using land-based patrol planes before entering WWII.

With the increased need for land-based planes with longer ranges, particularly for Arctic

and other northern wintertime operations, the Navy acquired Army B-24s and

redesignated them as PB4Y-1s. The purpose of these aircraft necessitated several

changes to meet Navy patrol-bomber needs, including additional crew space and

electronics installation.

To meet the Navy’s requirements, a much-modified version of the Liberator evolved as

the PB4Y-2 Privateer. Modifications included a longer nose, as well as an additional top

turret and new waist-powered turrets. The new model was also designed with a single

vertical tail in place of the B-24’s twin tails. Because Navy patrol missions were flown

at lower altitudes, the high altitudes capability of the B-24 was not necessary. The

Liberator’s turbo superchargers were removed for mechanically supercharged P&W R-

1830s. It is also important to note that while initial PB4Y-2s had a Liberator-type nose

turret, most were modified to have an Erco ball turret installed in the nose.

With some modified for weather flying as PB4Y-2Ms, the Privateers were the mainstays

of Navy VP squadrons in the post-war period. After WWII, Privateers were used as

hurricane hunters and played a large role in Reserve squadrons, helping to keep up

training for thousands of Naval Reservists. On April 8, 1950, a USN VP-26 PB4Y-2

(BuNo 59645) became the first aircraft lost in the secret intelligence gathering mission of

the Cold War. Also, in 1950, numerous Privateers were recalled for service in Korea,

where their air-to-surface radar was used to hunt down and destroy North Korean

infiltrators along the coasts. They also flew dangerous nighttime Firefly missions to drop

flares over embattled United Nations troops so that air support could continue around the

clock. In 1945, nine P4-Ys, including this aircraft (BuNo 66302), were transferred to the

United States Coast Guard as P4Y-2G. In August 1958, BuNo 66302 was put up for

disposal at NAS Elizabeth City, NC. Ace Smelting Inc, Phoenix,

AZ purchased it in 1959 and it was soon thereafter placed into aerial tanker service as

N2871G with Avery Aviation, Greybull, WY. The motors were replaced with 1,700 hp

Curtiss-Wright Cyclone engines when modified for service as a fire bomber. From 1959

to 1969 it flew as tanker #A20 and later as #B21 and #A23. In July, 1969, Hawkins and

Powers Aviation, Greybull, WY purchased the aircraft and flew it until 2006 as tanker

#121.

In August 2006, T121 was auctioned and began a comprehensive inspection,

maintenance, repair and conversion effort. The Spar AD was completed and approved by

the FAA. Tim Mikus of B&G Industries supervised the work utilizing their extensive

store of spares and experience with the type. The fire suppression tanks were removed to

restore fuselage interior space and bomb bay doors were refitted for the first time in over

50 years. Woody Grantham of Arizona Air Response flew the plane to Casa Grande in October

2010. This is the only flying, airworthy example of this Navy variant of the B-24 heavy

bomber. 

Crew:

Shoen Family

Bruce Brockhagen

Woody Grantham

Boyd Gallaher

Robert Kropp

Gosshawk Aviation

Bijan Maleki

Joe Coraggio

Sean VanHatten