Harpoon

[GARY HILTON]

Hi everyone, I have a new lap-top with me, so I'll be able to stay more current with the postings here. Trying to get straightened out with photobucket so I can get pic's posted.....we'll get it figured out....I have'nt touched 58C for over a month...it's been incredibly hot and humid for Wyoming....But I have been trying to track down the surviving PV-2's here in the lower 48. According to the registry, there is supposed to be 3 Harpoons in Montana....1 in Richy, Mt....and 2 in Glendive....I went to Glendive and found out that those 2 are not there, and was told that the one in Richy is gone as well....Anyone know their location? Also was supposed to be 2 in Calexico, Ca., but these are gone as well.....I believe that the remains of these may be at Ocatello Wells, Ca???? Does anybody know how many PV-2's that Hirth Air Tankers owned or operated?.....I am trying to get in touch with Connie Hirth, any help here would be appreciated........I have found that there is very little written about the PV-2 in the history books, and not a lot more about it's older sibling, the PV-1....I would like to hear from everyone associated with the Harpoons, or Venturas, or the Howards....I am in particular interested to hear from anyone that has any knowledge of the Army version of the PV-2 that used the Wright R-2600 engines.......Where did the Harpoon go to that was up for grabs a few weeks ago? I'd like to get the s/n , on this bird....would also like to talk with those who are rebuilding/restoring other PV's...Thanks!!!! Gary

[rwdfresno]

Gary,

My father Joe Davis owns a PV-2C Bu# 37129 and it is stored at Eagle Field, Dos Palos, CA. It flew in and has had the Malathion tank, fertilizer hopper and spray booms removed. It is still sitting awaiting potential restoration if we ever figure out a way to fund it that makes sense as we spend most of our $ on restoring the airfield it's self. It came out of Aero Trader's Ocatello Wells location (or Borego Springs as we have always called it). Tony Ritzman and Bill Muszala ferried it for us. The other aircraft that look similar to the PV-2 that are down there I believe are some Howard converted PV-1s or Loadstars that have the wings spars cut.

Ryan

[kingpin]

Hello

There is a PV2D located at Waukesha Airport in Wisconsin.. It belongs to the
Commerative Air Force Wisconsin Wing.. They have been restoring it for sometime now.. I used to belong when I lived there.. I believe it is number 32 or 33 of 35 D models built..

Glen

[GARY HILTON]

Ryan, thanks for the info, man, I was just out by Chowchilla last week, was north bound on the 99...went east on the 152, then back north on the 59, to get around the scales! I don't think I was too far away. I would like to get permission to come by there some time in the future to get some photos of the PV. Thanks, Gary

[GARY HILTON]

Glen, thanks for the info on the Waukesha PV-2. I delivered a load there last month (ice cream cones) in the middle of town...I was hoping to go by the airport there, but time did not permit. I had also planned a return visit during Oshkosh, but plans changed and I was'nt able to make OHSH as well......But, we'll make it yet! By the way, I am assuming that it is at the county airport, right? Thanks...Gary

[Michel C-GNCJ]

This one was at the CAF Base in Mesa, AZ back a couple of years ago, but was being prepped to fly to another field. I don't remember where it went.




There was also this one slowly decaying away:


If I recall right, there is a company at the Falcon Field that seems to specialize in refurbishing them. They had many of them in various state parked around their premise last time I went...

[rwdfresno]

Anytime you are going to be in the area let me know. You weren't too far away.

Ryan

[bdk]

Rialto Airport, southern California. The airport is closing soon. Hopefully this will get moved somewhere rather than scrapped.

http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pv2harpoonregistry/pv2harpoon-37466.html

http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNumSQL.asp?verified=1&NNumbertxt=6855C

APPLICANT MITCHELL AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS APPLICATION DATED 6/12/07 120 DAY EXT 7/17/07

Last edited by bdk on Fri Aug 03, 2007 12:45 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Warbird Kid]

I wonder how much it would be to rent a BIG flatbed?

[Roger Cain]

Gary,

My father Joe Davis owns a PV-2C Bu# 37129 and it is stored at Eagle Field, Dos Palos, CA. It flew in and has had the Malathion tank, fertilizer hopper and spray booms removed. It is still sitting awaiting potential restoration if we ever figure out a way to fund it that makes sense as we spend most of our $ on restoring the airfield it's self. It came out of Aero Trader's Ocatello Wells location (or Borego Springs as we have always called it). Tony Ritzman and Bill Muszala ferried it for us. The other aircraft that look similar to the PV-2 that are down there I believe are some Howard converted PV-1s or Loadstars that have the wings spars cut.

Ryan

Ryan,

Is that the one that I used to see at Stockton Airport?

[Mr Widgeon]

There are two here in Jerome, Idaho.
One in a long slow rebuild.
Will try to get the "N" numbers and pics. later.

[Dan K]

Glen, thanks for the info on the Waukesha PV-2. I delivered a load there last month (ice cream cones) in the middle of town...I was hoping to go by the airport there, but time did not permit. I had also planned a return visit during Oshkosh, but plans changed and I was'nt able to make OHSH as well......But, we'll make it yet! By the way, I am assuming that it is at the county airport, right? Thanks...Gary

Gary, Just so you and everyone else realizes that you are certainly welcome to visit the CAF Wisconsin Wing hangar, but you will not see a PV-2D there. The Wing is no longer sponsoring the aircraft, and any restoration work ended on it at least a year ago. Available space in the hangar is now rented out.

If you still wish to visit the hangar, you'll need to contact someone with the wing, as you'll need to get through the gate at Crites Field to visit. The last time I spoke with their Wing Leader, they were searching for an L-bird (or at least something they could fly immediately on their budget). This site hasn't been updated for a bit, but you could try it for contact info:
www.cafwi.org

[rwdfresno]

There are two here in Jerome, Idaho.
One in a long slow rebuild.

The one under rebuilt is Tim Savage's Bu# 37107

I remember talking with John Bilyeu years ago about that aircraft in Rialto.

Ryan,

Is that the one that I used to see at Stockton Airport?

Our aircraft was not at Stockton that I am aware of although I seem to recall Taigh Ramey having a Howard hanging around for a while but I am not sure about that.

[Cindy]

there's one at Nut Tree airport (Vacaville, CA) - owned by Duncan Miller. I'll see if I can dig up some pictures and scan them in.

[skippyscage]

there's one at Nut Tree airport (Vacaville, CA) - owned by Duncan Miller. I'll see if I can dig up some pictures and scan them in.

here are some photos

slide show 1, # 1 and 2