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Dates |
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Event |
1946 |
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Constructed as a P2V-1.
First production P2V-1 |
1946 |
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Specially modified for maximum endurance. Removing all its armament and replacing the nose turret of standard P2V-1s with a more streamlined metal nose, the aircraft also boasted increased fuel capacity with the installation of additional tanks in the bomb bay and aft fuselage and provision for carrying wing tanks. Modifications were for an attempted flight from Perth, Australia to Washington, DC. |
1946 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 89082 and operated with these markings: The Turtle. |
29 September 1946 |
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Nicknamed The Turtle by its crew (Navy press called it the Truculent Turtle). Crew consisted of four seasoned wartime patrol plane pilots and a baby kangaroo. Loaded with as much fuel as the aircraft could possibly carry, the Turtle lifted 268 percent of its own weight with the assistance of JATO (Jet Assisted Take Off) bottles upon take off from Perth Australia. Encountering winds and heavy weather over the Pacific Ocean and rain, sleet, and snow over the Rocky Mountains, The T consumed more fuel than anticipated and had to make a landing at Naval Air Station (NAS) Columbus, Ohio. Averaging over 200 mph during the flight, the aircraft traveled 11,235 miles in a time of 55 hours and 17 minutes without refueling. |
From 1946 to 1953 |
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Transferred to Naval Air Test Center, NAS Patuxent River, MD.
Used in testing programs. |
From 1953 to 1977 |
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To Smithsonian-National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC.
 View the Location Dossier |
From 1953 to 1977 |
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Assigned to NAS Norfolk, VA for storage.
Although stored here, it was also on display. |
1977 |
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Loaned to National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, FL.
Transported to Pensacola by barge. |
15 October 1982 |
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Photographer: Paul Thallon
Notes: 1982 photo at National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, FL of Lockheed P2V-1 Neptune |
1990 |
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To National Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola, FL.
Formally transferred from NASM ownership.
View the Location Dossier |
11 September 2003 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield |
19 April 2010 |
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Photographer: Matt Maranto |
8 October 2011 |
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Photographer: Matt Maranto |
8 October 2011 |
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Photographer: Matt Maranto |
8 October 2012 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield |
8 October 2012 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield |
8 October 2012 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield |
|
 | | This airframe dossier is based on
unreviewed imported data.
If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor. |
