Aero-TV: The PB4Y-2 Privateer - A Priceless Aero-Treasure
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- Oshkosh Reveals Many Treasures... Including Old Warbirds Full Of History
While at EAA AirVenture 2015, ANN News Editor, Tom Patton, ventured out to visit the warbirds and was attracted to a large four engine aircraft that is a variation of the World War II Consolidated B-24. It turns out to be the world’s only flyable PB4Y-2, Privateer, which is a U.S. Navy version of the B-24.
To get the full scoop about the airplane, Tom talked with Boyd Gallaher, who is the pilot of the aircraft. Gallaher first became acquainted with this airplane in the late 1970s when it was being operated as a fire suppression aircraft. He described it as being like an, “Old knuckleheaded Harley that makes noise, rattles, and shakes.”
Gallaher offers some great information about the background of the aircraft in this video. The aircraft started out with the Navy but never saw action in World War II. It then moved on to the Coast Guard, but spent most of his life in the fire suppression business.
Tom asked specific questions about the flying qualities of the aircraft and Gallaher provides some great background about the flying and handling characteristics. Watch the video and you’ll find out why Gallaher said, “You have to be a monkey to get in it and a gorilla to fly it.”
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FMI: www.aero-news.net, www.aero-tv.net, www.airbornenetv.net, / aerotvnetwork , www.letbobfly.net, www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=pb4y-2_privateer
Dad was a nose gunner in a Privateer, VPB-109, 1944-1945. What a treat to see one of them.
My father was a tailgunner on a Privateer, VPB-123, also from 1944-45. I have the book "The Reluctant Raiders", The Story of United States Navy Bombing Squadron VB/ VPB-109 in World War II. According to that book and other info I have for my father's squadron and your. father's were both based at Yontan Field on Okinawa at the same time!
My Grandfather was a gunner in VPB-123 PB4Y Privateer. He just passed..98years old.
I worked at Hawkins& Powers 80-82. It was great seeing these old aircraft, being able to wrench on them and see them fly. Touching the past.
was such an honor to see this old girl flying today at Nellis! I have never seen one in person before!
My grandpa’s squadron flew these through typhoons for weather reconnaissance. He was stationed in Guam ‘48-‘52. I would love to see this aircraft in person. I hope it travels to my neck of the woods someday.
My dad was a tail gunner in this type of plane while hear served in the Philippines during WWII. He was also a gunner instructor in the Navy.
My father also was a tailgunner on a Navy Privateer that was based on the north end of Okinawa from February to August, 1945. He earned 1 Distingushed Flying Cross and 2 Air Medals.
My father is 94 and alive, He was a Tail-Gunner in this same plane during WWII and did the barrier reef runs to close down the shipping of goods in and out of Japan. and then was one of 2 planes that were sent to see if the Japanese were seriously surrendering and they gave a no conditions surrender the day before and My father and their sister plane were attacked in Tokyo Bay as they were flying back to the fleet just out side Tokyo bay.. two days later 1000 B-24's destroyed Japan.. then they really gave up.. got to see this plane in Flagstaff AZ really really Cool
I like that tail winfow
I remember when It was Stored at Grass Valley, Ca. WONDERFUL it still fly's ! I have photo's.!
Paul Silva does this aircraft belong to Yanks Air Museum in Chino, CA? They had one that had been ferried there, but last I knew was not airworthy.
Thanks for posting, very fun!
Also, that pilot is a real pro
T-30 was another PBY4Y-2 used as an air tanker. It was on USFS contract at Chester, CA for a few years in the late 70s-early 80s. I remember watching takeoffs and wondering if it was going to get airborne or dump into Lake Almanor. As he said, it was a heavy plane.
my dad was stationed in florida during 1944 WW 2 flying in a PB4Y2 as a bombardie i have some pictures he took out the window while in formation and many pics of them lined up even some B17s in the background later after the war he went to california where he was at a pilotless aircraft base
My uncle was stationed at NAS Miami during the war. His PB4Y2 took off on a routine patrol in July 1945 and was never heard from again. Never found out what happened
My dad was a bombardier on one and spent a lot of time in Florida. I couldn't tell you where but he talked a lot about Florida.
He finished his training, was assigned to a ship in the Pacific, scheduled to ship out the next day and the war ended. Because he was assigned to a ship he was credited with serving overseas even though he never left the country.
My son and I were allowed access to this old girl at Greybull just before it was sold. She was still rigged for firefighting and it seemed like all she needed were fuel, hot batteries and a couple of pilots and she could go back to work. Glad to see her in the Air where she belongs.
Good interview. Thumbs up!
Four R-2600 engines on this one, eh? I found another source that said the plane was designed with Wright R-1820's. The R-2600 was a twin-row 14 cylinder engine; the R-1820 was a single-row 9 cylinder.
March 17, 2019---Was stationed at Elmendorf AFB 77-79 and while I don't know if it was this plane or the other I saw, but one of them was parked on Elmendorf's ramps during at least one summer as a fire bomber.
Wings of a B-24. Everything else was different. Basically a patrol ASW aircraft designed to fly below 10K. Engines were normally aspirated.
My father flew with in the USN toward the end of the war with this aircraft, he was supposed to be involved in the invasion of Japan, odd that it was not painted in the dark blue of the Navy.
Underrated naval aircraft in WWII
My great grandfather was a waist gunner on one of these in like 1942
It’s great to see such rare aircraft being preserved, any possibility of it having its turrets refitted in the future?
Thanks for the video....always getting surprised what I find at times on TH-cam. Have a bunch of slides of either this airplane or the other when it was used as a borate bomber at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska 77-79. It and a C-123A were parked on the far side of the taxi/parking area. The C-123A belonged to the national guard and they finally took it back, making it into a display aircraft outside their guard base gate.
Looks like you could get a real tan at the aft observer windows! That aircraft is almost all window at that point. Was that ever a weak spot for the fuselage?
were there gunner blisters on the back?
These had large powered gun turrets that looked like blisters in the waist gunnery positions. They also had a powered Ball Turret on the Nose during their Second World War use. Also had two dorsal turrets on to of that.
The plane was going to be armored? To be used in what mission and by which service? I believe he said "Navy."
How do you armor a plane built for bombing to begin with? Maybe they were going to put the B-24 super chargers on or the new bomb sight. Navy lingo to confuse the enemy.
It was normal for combat aircraft to have some armor around vulnerable spots such as the engines and cockpit.
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Four R-2600's makes this one thirsty bird.
B24 looks to me
Its a pby4-2 Different design
Wings of a B-24. Fuselage totally different design. Single tail. Engines had no turbochargers. Designed as a patrol/ ASW aircraft to fly under 10K.