PV-2 37524 starting to come back to life

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:17 pm

You think we would have learned by now but noooo, we haven't.

We bought a Harpoon that has been sitting for a long time in California. Last flown in 1995. Engines have not run in 15 plus years. Sound familiar? Yes we are gluttons for punishment.

We started to bring her back to life and have visited a few times to knock the nests out and begin to prep the airframe and engines.

The volunteers come out to help get her going. Here is Josh, Ricky and Sydney hamming it up. Our trusty Beech in the background has become our newest Harpoon support ship.

Serviced the hydraulics, lubed and cycled the flaps and bomb bay doors and they were smooth. Changed the boost pumps. Put some fuel in and pressure tested the system. It was a good start. Now time to head home for dinner.

In some ways she is better than 062 as the previous owners had done some work and acquired parts for her. The panel is quite stock but she is as gutted as 062 was at the start.

Jerry Anderson is a local and has been more than helpful. Jerry has been our Beech photo and air show pilot for many years. We love Jerry. He and Jim Adams pulled the cowling and spark plugs so we could lube the cylinder walls before we ever pushed on a prop blade. We wanted to lube the cylinders and pre oil the engine before we moved the props even a little bit. I am sure they have been moved many times in the past by every passerby but at least they will be wet and lubed when we try it for the first time.

Last Saturday Steve, Sydney, Robin and Matt came over to help out. We serviced and tested the plugs, sprayed down the cylinders and pre oiled the engines. to our delight they were free and felt good. After pulling them through by hand during pre oil we tested the starters and they worked perfectly. The plugs went back in and we were able to start the engines.

They did beautifully, save the right carb. Time will tell on that one. Here is youtube video Roger Cain shot of the first start of the left engine:

https://youtu.be/2xogR7L17-M

Jim Dunn and Roger Cain were there and took some cool photos that they shared with us.

All of us at Vintage Aircraft love to bring these great old aircraft back to life. It is quite satisfying indeed. It was a good day for sure.

Fouga23 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 1:37 pm

She looks great, Taigh! You really are an inspiration for saving all these twins

Looks like she has a different nose configuration from 062?

Taigh Ramey · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 2:08 pm

Yes this one is the more common variants with the conventional Harpoon nose. Our 062 is a PV-2D model that had the special 8 gun nose. They only made 35 out of the proposed 500 of the D models before production was stopped as the war ended.

This model, sometimes called a PV-2C or just PV-2, also had a radar antenna in the nose, two fixed 50's on the upper part of the nose (gun ports still present in this one) and a package of three 50's under the nose.

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 2:41 pm

Great Job Taigh and crew!

phil65 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 2:47 pm

Phil

Mark Sampson · **Joined:** Tue Jan 25, 2011 3:02 pm **Posts:** 285

Fantastic news. Best of luck! Bring it to Tucson when you're ready!

airnutz · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 3:02 pm

Oh boy! A most excellent new adventure! Looking forward to this. Thanks for sharing...again, Taigh! Any closeups of the nose art?

Craig59 · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 6:10 pm

Awesome, Taigh. It's like deja vu all over again!

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 7:54 pm

A whole squadron of twins!
What's the news with the Howard?

PJ · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 8:33 pm

Great news!!! There can never be too many PV's in the air!

PJ
PV-2 Harpoon "Hot Stuff"
www.amhf.org

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 8:45 pm

Awesome Taigh! Thanks for sharing and saving another one!

rc38pilot · **Posted:** Mon Apr 02, 2018 11:46 pm

Thanks for the update and the mention of the help,was thrilled
it ran so well...Keep me in the loop when your coming down again..
Jim Adams

Brenden S · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2018 8:28 am

Well done

ALOHADAVE · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2018 8:55 am

I want to help, I live close by
I have the whole history on this aircraft.
I'm sooo happy it is going to be saved.
Dave Trojan

ALOHADAVE · **Posted:** Tue Apr 03, 2018 9:05 am

History of PV-2 Harpoon 37524
June 1943: The Navy ordered 500 examples from Lockheed under the designation PV-2 Harpoon.
1944: The PV-2 was manufactured at the Lockheed (Vega) Aircraft Division, Burbank California. The PV-2 was assigned construction number 15-1490.
May 28th, 1945: PV-2 Harpoon was accepted by the Navy. The final paperwork was completed including the DD form 250 signed by the contract representative for the Navy. The Navy took ownership of the aircraft and authorized final payment.
December 26th 1945: PV-2 Harpoon was delivered to the Navy. The aircraft was ferried out from the manufacturer to its next assignment. The Navy assigned it Bureau Number (BuNo) 37524.
December 1945: PV-2 BuNo 37524 was flown from the factory at Burbank California to NAS Terminal Island, Los Angeles County, California. At NAS Terminal Island, the plane received its final equipment installations and flight tests.
January 1946: The PV-2 was transferred to Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Holtsville, San Diego County, California (now Holtville Airport 125 miles east of San Diego CA, near El Centro). This was just a temporary stop on its way to its next reported location. The Army Corps of Engineers reported that NAAS Holtville was used for a few months in 1946 to store 111, PV-2 Harpoons before the station went into caretaker status in late 1946.
February 1946: PV-2 BuNo 37524 transferred to Naval Air Facility (NAF) Litchfield Park, Arizona.
June 16th, 1952: While still in storage at NAF Litchfield Park, it was reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of only 13 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy.
June 26th 1952: PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 was taken out of storage and transferred to NAS Alameda California. At NAS Alameda it was assigned to the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) Overhaul and Repair (O & S), Maintenance and Supply (M & S) Departments most likely for overhaul after its long storage period.
February 1953: It was reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of only 18 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy.
March 11th 1953: Last reported date it was at NAS Alameda.
March 18th 1953: PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 transferred east to Naval Air Reserve Training Unit (NARTU) Anacostia, Washington D.C. (This field became Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in 2005).
May 1953: The Navy finally started to get some use out of the aircraft because it flew 16 hours between March and May 1953. It was reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of 35 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy.
November 1953: It was reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of 149 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy.
February 1954: It was reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of 192 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy.
February 1955: It was reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of 406 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy.
August 31st 1955: Last reported assigned to NARTU Anacostia. It was also reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of 479 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy.
December 14th 1955: Transferred back to NAF Litchfield Park Arizona and returned to storage.
February 29th 1956: It was reported that PV-2 Harpoon, BuNo 37524 had a total of 513 hours of flight time on the airframe since acceptance by the Navy. This was the last total hours reported by the Navy.
May 9th 1956: Last reported at NAF Litchfield Park.
December 17th, 1956: Stricken from the Navy inventory.

1957 - 1979: The PV-2 was owned and operated by Ralph S. Johnson/ Master Equipment Co, Cheyenne WY with civil registry N7262C. Ralph S. Johnson purchased 22 surplus PV-2 Harpoons and used them as aerial agricultural sprayers.
February 1979 – 1982: Owned by Ralph S. Johnson/ RALCO Inc, Cheyenne WY
1981 -1986: Located in open storage Chandler AZ
March 1982 -1984: Owned by Westco Interservice Group, St Helens OR
1985 – 1987: Owned by Ralph S. Johnson/ RALCO Inc, Cheyenne WY
June 1987 – 1995: Owned by Quarry Products Inc, Richmond CA
1988 – 1995: Located in open storage, Sonoma-Schellville CA
April 29th 1995: Owned by Earl R. Benedict, Vacaville-Nut Tree CA. Restored to military configuration with bare metal finish and Donald Duck nose art.
August 1995- 2014: Owned by Earl R. Benedict. Civil Registry N20PV, Vacaville-Nut Tree CA.

Warbird Information Exchange

PV-2 37524 starting to come back to life

Who is online