PV-2D Harpoon 84062 (Tanker 101) comes back to life

[robkamm]

areed. the star of the last picture is definitely the cart! love it.

[the330thbg]

areed. the star of the last picture is definitely the cart! love it.

That is very, very cool

[Taigh Ramey]

areed. the star of the last picture is definitely the cart! love it.

Here is the dolly description from the Navy Ordnance Catalog:



With those tracks it sounds like a Sherman tank rolling by when you pull it but I moved that 580 pound torpedo air flask on the dolly with one hand earlier today. It works great. Still haven't seen any photos of them in use yet.

[Neal Nurmi]

So why the tracks -- you'd think it would be used mainly on carrier decks or paved hardstands? And why would it be designated a skid, rather than a dolly or cart?

[Canso42]

Yeah, that Mark 6 would make a nice planter, or at least move a heavy planter around.

Taigh, I recommend that you quiz Lone Star prez Larry Gregory about getting photos of LSFM's Poon's interior.
The reason for that being that about a year or so back, we were instructed to stay out of, off of and away from " Ike damaged aircraft." It was at that point I decided to part ways with being plane captain of the Catalina, ex Canso A, RCAF 9742. I stuck my head in the back door of the PV-2D briefly several years ago, but that's it. I'd be happy to shoot some pix, but I have to have permission from the brass.

blue skies
Doug

[Taigh Ramey]

So why the tracks -- you'd think it would be used mainly on carrier decks or paved hardstands? And why would it be designated a skid, rather than a dolly or cart?

Imagine where the PV-1, PV-2, PBY's, PBM's were operating when using the torpedoes and bombs-usually out on the front lines or close to it. Tires work good on hard ground but not so good in the mud, snow, slush or sand typically found where these guys were loading bombs and torpedoes. The tracks helped distribute the load over a greater surface area as compared to a tire or multiple tires and made it easier to push the skids and dolly's under the aircraft into the bomb bay or under the wing.

Here are a few examples:

[Canso42]

I know that color photo well. There are a couple of Aleutians veterans in the PBY@yahoo e-group.

[PJ]

Taigh...here are the photos that I have of the CAF PV-2:











Don't know if they help, but there you go.

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

[cco23i]

The funny thing is we set our living history camp up in the same area as the PV-2!

Scott

[Taigh Ramey]

Great shots PJ. Thank you for posting them.

One of your photos brings up one thing I haven't been able to figure out so far which is the location of the storage battery in the D model. It's not in the manuals I have nor have I found photos of its location.

The normal harpoons had the battery up under the cockpit but there is no evidence that our D had one in the usual place. I suspect that it was mounted in the rear fuselage because with 8 50's and all of the ammo boxes, chutes, ammunition etc in the nose I think they could have used the battery in the rear for CG reasons. The D also did not have the twin 50 Bell hydraulic gun mount in the tunnel position which would allow the battery to be mounted in the aft fuselage.

Presently 062 has a battery and Andover V32D2 APU back in the aft compartment above the tunnel glass but the install is an obvious tanker mod. I am sure I will solve this mystery sooner or later but should any of you be able to help answer this question I welcome the help.

[the330thbg]

Gosh, the PV-1 and or 2, they are lovely birds. Always hit me as a tad bit of 'pregnant'.., but I still love her! Form follows function. That is what I love about Warbirds.., form follows function.

Last edited by the330thbg on Wed Mar 09, 2011 9:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Taigh Ramey]

Look at the caked mud on the axle/lug nuts!

[Canso42]

Is that bomb hauler truck the same or similar model to the restoration that was at TOM last year?

[PJ]

The color picture is actually a PV-1. The nose glass was one of the earlier ones, later replaced by a solid nose.

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

[GARY HILTON]

You sure come up with some neat stuff , Taigh!
As from a few days back, I also confirm that there are positively 7 "D" models that are still with us....1501/1507/1516/1599/1600/1604/1606. There is a possibility that there could be two PV-2D's in existance that were with the Portugese...1508/1513....this is in reference to Pete Marson's THE LOCKHEED TWINS book. I know that there is a Harpoon in Portugal, with a set of PV wings next to it, but it's ID is not 100% as of yet.
Yes, there is an extremely high rate of "D" survivers concidering their low production numbers, and rightly so due to their low airframe hours at their time of disposal.
The Japanese used a large number of the PV-2D in their defense, post WWII of course! I believe that they kept their Harpoons in service up until around the late 1960's, so there is a possibility that there could be an airframe or two in Japan????
As a point of interest, I once (kinda under my breath) called my wife a Beech....she heard, and called me a spam-can.


p.s. I have heard from a......scource.??? that there is supposed to be a PV-2 Harpoon in New Guinea....setting in some remote jungle area....complete airframe with turrets intact.....I am doubtful on this, but I could be very wrong....this could be the Harpoon that Amelia was on! Go get 'em Tigar!