Tails of the Lockheed P2V Neptune

Another “ping-pong” GHOST!

39324, the 6th standard production P2V-2, completed assembly at Lockheed’s Vega/Burbank plant in June 1947. She was assigned serial number 26-1024 as a model 026-52-02. I need to thank Wayne Mutza [Lockheed P2V Neptune © 1996 Schiffer] for some fundamentals, and a “whole-lota-thanks” to Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida, for the only detail I can find on this ship anywhere. This is one of those rare moments when Professor Joe Baugher’s work (RIP) is absent.
Our ship was accepted by the US Navy on 30 June 1947 under contract NOa(s)5247. The AHC shows her assigned in August 1947 to VP-ML-7 [possibly to NAS Quonset Point, Rhode Island, along with 39321] remaining on station through May 1948. In May 1948, she was reassigned to VP-5 at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Ceiba, Puerto Rico. She remained in Roosevelt Roads inventory until she was dispatched to O&R NAS Alameda, Alameda, California, on 22 December 1949. Ten days at Alameda and she was reassigned on 1 January 1950 to VC-6 at NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, California. Remaining at Moffett, on 15 August she was transferred to VC-7. Remaining with VC-7, on 1 June 1951 she relocated to Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia. On 22 January 1952, she commenced a week at M&S NSF Anacostia, Washington D.C., but was dispatched back to M&S Alameda on 30 January. Shortly thereafter, February 1952, she logged a flight to M&S NAS Akron, Akron, Ohio, and hurriedly returned to Alameda. On 3 October 1952, she showed up at NAWC Johnsville, Warminster, Pennsylvania, remaining with NAWC through February 1954 when she was transferred to NADC at Johnsville, in their inventory through February 1955. There’s a gap in the paper at this point, but she is reportedly reassigned on 20 July 1955 to M&S NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas. She would remain at M&S through 5 June 1956. On 17 July 1956, she departed Texas for NAS Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Kansas, returning to O&R Corpus Christi on 27 April 1958. On the following day, 28 April, she arrived at NAF Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Arizona, for storage through 31 August. On 6 November 1958, she was “stricken” at Litchfield with 2,599 hours. I can’t find “salvage” paperwork at Litchfield, so she may have been transported with all other remaining aircraft to MASDC in 1966. End of story. Flaps up!
Photo: Naval Air Station Alameda USN Image PH2 Bruce Trombecky 7-30-95 via militaryphotodepot fb 11-21-23

A GHOST!

39323 completed assembly at Lockheed’s Vega/Burbank plant in June 1947. The fifth standard production P2V-2 under US Navy contract NOa(s)5247, she was assigned serial number 26-1023 as a model 126-52-02. I must recognize the hard work and excellent product of Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola for the AHCs for this ship. Also, we’re indebted to Aerial Visuals [net], Aviation Safety [net], B3A [net], Professor Joe Baugher (RIP) [net], and the crew at VPNavy [net] – history and heritage with only a very small wrinkle. Our ship was assigned to VP-ML-7 NAS Jacksonville in August 1947, remaining on station through May 1948. At that point, she was reassigned to VP-5 at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Ceiba, Puerto Rico. It was while our ship was at Roosevelt Roads that my previous “wrinkle” comment becomes apropos. On 21 January 1949, while conducting a high speed taxi text at Roosevelt Roads, the nose wheel of our ship collapsed and she skidded measurable yards to a rest. Aerial Visuals, Aviation Safety, and Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archive [B3A] all report that she was “damaged beyond repair.” A major shout out to the ground crews at Roosevelt Roads – she was again airborne and headed to O/H NAS Alameda, Alameda, California, in December and a “work in progress” through the following May [1950] and her reassignment to VC-5 at NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, California. A short two months later, she pulled a transcontinental relocation for a short stay at M&S NAS Quonset Point, Davisville, Rhode Island, then on to Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia, still in VC-5 inventory. 1 July 1950, she’s off to FASRON 103 at NAS Patuxent River, Patuxent, Maryland, remaining on station through August. On 23 September 1950, being reassigned to VC-861, she departed Patuxent for NAS Corpus Christi, then on to NAS Jacksonville. On 9 May 1951, she logged in at Naval Air Station Port Lyautey, Kenitra, Morocco, returning to Jacksonville on 1 November. Another reassignment, this time to FASRON 109 at Naval Air Station Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida, came about on 16 January 1952. She wasn’t there for very long, because on 23 June she arrived back at NAS M&S Alameda for a little over a month “on the rack.” On 2 July 1953, another transcontinental reassignment and she’s in the inventory of VP-24 at NAS Patuxent River. In January 1954, she deployed to Naval Station Argentia, Marquise, Newfoundland, returning to FASRON 109 at Jacksonville for a stint, and finally on to reassignment with VC-8 to NAS Sanford, Orlando, Florida, February through 10 November 1955. At this point, she is dispatched to O&R Jacksonville, 8 December through 28 December 1955. On 12 January 1956, she is again consigned to O&R/M&S, only this time she remains in the south . . . to NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas. On 19 June 1956, she logged in to NAS Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Arizona, confined to storage. With her final breath, she was struck-off-charge at Litchfield Park on 3 November 1959 with 2,598 hours. Can’t find a photo anywhere! Flaps up!
Illustration: Lockheed P2V-2 Neptune Squadron-Signal net
Photo: Naval Station Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico nara net

A “ping pong” GHOST!

39322, with serial number 26-1022, completed assembly at Lockheed’s Vega/Burbank plant in June 1947. The fourth standard production P2V-2, model 026-52-02, was acquired by the US Navy under contract NOa(s)5247 which called for a total of 50 of the “26” model ships. Only two contributors to the accumulative data file to thank – Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum [AHCs] and Wayne Mutza’s listing of our ship in his Appendix 11 - Individual Neptune Record – p. 262 Lockheed P2V Neptune. The Navy took our ship “on charge” on 29 June 1947. Her first assignment was with VP-ML-7 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida – directly from the plant. In June of 1948 she was transferred to VP-5 at Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Ceiba, Puerto Rico. On 19 January 1950, she was sent to O&M at NAS Alameda, Alameda, California. In May 1950, she was reassigned to VC-6, 25 miles south of Alameda at NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, California. While at Moffett Field, she was reassigned to VC-7 in August of that year. On 1 June 1951, she made a great leap from Moffett Field, on the west coast, to transferring back to VP-7 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, on the east coast, where she remained in inventory through December. On 4 December, she shared the ramp with other VP-8 ships at NAS Quonset Point, Davisville, Rhode Island, for a week, and then moved on with the squadron to NAS Patuxent River, Patuxent, Maryland on 12 December, remaining on station through February 1952. On 8 February 1952, she returned to NAS Jacksonville, transferred to FASRON 51. She spent time on the line at O&R NAS Jacksonville from mid-May through October, when she returned on 1 November to the stable of VC-7 at their Naval Air Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia [Chambers Field]. Shortly after – two months – she ended up back at Alameda O&R on 31 December – depot work? On 3 February 1953 she cleared Alameda and headed north to FASRON 112 at Whidby Island, remaining on station through late 1953. On 3 November 1953, she was transferred to Aviation Training Unit 601 at NAS Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Kansas – in their inventory through February of 1956. On 28 February 1956, she was dispatched to O&R at NAS Corpus Christi for 4 months, then on to storage at NAS Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Arizona, on 13 June. She remained in storage in Arizona until “Stricken,” with 2,701 hours, on 3 November 1959. Salvaged? Unknown. Flaps up!

No GHOST!

39321 completed assembly at Lockheed/Vega-Burbank in June 1947 as the third standard-production P2V-2 Neptune. With this twenty-first post in the Neptune Tails series, Intense gratitude to Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida, for the provision of AHCs, and to VPNavy [net] for their incredible site data and the one photo I’ve got. Acquired under US Navy contract NOa(s)5247, she was assigned serial number 26-1021, a model 026-52-02. Although accepted by the US Navy on 30 June 1947, she doesn’t show up until entering inventory with VP-7 at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, in August 1947, marked as EM-10. Speculating – she was sent to Jacksonville for training purposes only and might be one of a very few P2V-2s to wear VP-7 livery. She remained with VP-7 at Jacksonville through June 1948. She is reported to have “tripped” to Roosevelt Roads Naval Station, Ceiba, Puerto Rico, in July 1948. On 19 December 1949 she was tagged for an overhaul at O&R NAS Alameda, Alameda, California. On 9 January 1950 she was assigned to composite squadron VC-5 at NAS Moffett Field, Mountain View, California. On 15 August 1950 she was reassigned to another composite squadron, VC-7, at NAS Moffett, remaining on station through May 1951. On 1 June 1951 she was again reassigned, this time back to composite squadron VC-7 at Naval Station Norfolk, Norfolk, Virginia. She was transferred to VP-8 at Quonset Point Naval Air Station, North Kingstown, Rhode Island, on 4 December 1951. Ninety days later, she was transferred on 27 February 1952 to O&R/M&S NAS Jacksonville, where she remained through 30 April. She was returned to depot at Alameda, 3 May 1952 through 5 June. On 8 December 1952 she was reassigned to FASRON 112 at Whidby Island, remaining on station through August 1953. It was that August that she was again reassigned to ATU 601 at NAS Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Kansas. On 22 January 1954 she was dispatched to O&R/M&S NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, returning to Hutchinson on 1 June 1954. Twenty-one months later, she was retired/stricken - 24 February 1956 - with 3,451 hours.
Photo: 39321 x Donald Wissenger 11-12-1947 VP-7 – EM Quonset Point P2VNavy net

Trinidad P2V Neptunes
I have received a request for assistance from a very special lady who supports my Douglas JD-1 and Lockheed P2V research efforts. I’m asking for help from any of you who may be in possession of photos and/or data on any Lockheed P2Vs that might have spent time at any of the Trinidad (Lesser Antilles/ British West Indies) bases from any point from introduction of the Neptune to VP inventories through the base closer in 1977. Bases that might be involved are; NAF (LTA) Carlsen Field, Chaguaramas Training Base, Naval Base Trinidad, NAS Trinidad, NAS Port-of-Spain, Piarco Airport, and Waller Army Airfield. VPs that are known to have inventoried the P2Vs and that participated in operations from any of the above referenced air fields include VP-2, VP-8, VP-23, VP-29, VP-33, VP-34, VP-40, VP-44, VP-45, VP-48, and VP-133. Tall order, perhaps . . . but if I don’t ask . . . we’ll never know. PM me for the best medium for acquisition of “your stuff.” Flaps up!

A very special GHOST!

39320, originally intended to be the third standard production P2V-2 upon assembly completion in June 1947, was selected from the line as the one and only prototype P2V-2S. She was assigned serial number 26-1020 as the only model 226-52-03 to be built. Thanks to Professor Joe Baugher (RIP), Simon Beck (US War Planes), Wayne Mutza (Lockheed P2V Neptune © 1996 Schiffer), Pam Thomas (National Naval Air Museum), and the contributors to Wiki [net], we’ve got history. Radar technology during the war years was developing at lightning speed. On 2 February 1942, the US Navy commissioned the Radiation Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to explore an airborne radar design dedicated to seeking aircraft under Project Cadillac - AN/APS-20. Even more effective new standards were set with the 20B launch, range to 75 miles against low flying aircraft and 230 miles against shipping. Later, the fifth generation AN/APS-20E could detect an aerial target at over 130 miles and ships on the surface well beyond 200 miles. What they needed . . . was the perfect platform for maritime patrol. An ideal marriage took place; General Electric’s AN/APS-20E airborne radar system and Lockheed’s new shining star . . . the P2V Neptune, complete with a pronounced “belly bulge.”
Our ship, 39320, was produced under US Navy contract NOa(s)5247, near completion in June 1947. Selected as the platform for the P2V-2S prototype, she remained “in delivery” at Vega/Burbank through February 1949. She was transferred on paper on 30 June 1947 to RD&DE at Burbank, remaining in their charge through August 1949. At that point, she was transferred to NATC NAS Patuxent River, Patuxent, Maryland in September 1949 through November. On 24 April 1950, she was relocated to M&S NAS Alameda, Alameda, California, remaining on station through 10 April 1951. The next step was a two-month evaluation session at NATC NAS Patuxent for April/May. On 11 January 1952, she headed south to Air Test & Evaluation Squadron [VX1] at NAS Key West, Boca Chica Key, Florida, for further testing and evaluation. On 2 February 1952, she was transferred to Naval Air Warfare Center Warminster, Warminster, Pennsylvania, in their inventory through 25 August 1953. While there, she performed a transcontinental round-tripper to NAMTC Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Oxnard, California, returning to NAWC Warminster. Next, she was returned to NATC R&D at NAS Patuxent River on 12 October 1953. Eight years after being accepted off the line at Burbank, on 12 December 1954, she was transferred to O&R NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, closing it out through 21 November 1955. She was “stricken” on 30 January 1956 at O&R Corpus Christi with 682 total hours flown. If you’ve got a photo, additional data, or comments . . . bring it! Flaps up!
Photo: AN-APS-20 radar antenna x Hammersfan 5-22-14 Museum of Science and Industry Manchester UK wiki

Another GHOST!

39319 completed assembly at Lockheed’s Vega/Burbank plant in June 1947 with serial number 26-1019. We can be grateful to a number of folks for what history we do have: Aviation Archeology [net], Simon Beck’s US War Planes [net], Joe Baugher (RIP) [net], Wayne Mutza’s “Lockheed P2V Neptune” © 1996 Schiffer Books, Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum {TRs/AHCs], and the artists of Squadron-Signal Aircraft/Book 68 [illustrations]. She was the 2nd standard production P2V-2 as a model 026-52-02 under US Navy contract NOa(s)5247. She was accepted on 30 June but not taken on charge until Aug 1947. She arrived at A&T NAS Patuxent River, Patuxent, Maryland, in September 1947, remaining on station through April 1948. At that point in time, she was transferred to Tactical Testing/Patuxent through August 1948. On 9 December, she was transferred to O&H at Naval Air Rework Facility (NARF) Alameda and then reassigned to Aviation Training Unit – ATU 12 – at Corpus Christi, Texas. On 16 July 1950 she was again reassigned to FASRON 112 at NAS Whidbey Island (NASWI), Oak Harbor, Washington, remaining on station through 1 December 1951. Then, she was transferred to O&R M&S Alameda, remaining there through 15 May 1952. On 27 August, after being shuffled between Whidby [November 1951], Akron [February 1952], and Alameda [May 1952], she was involved in a hard landing at NAS Alameda, causing minor damage. She remained at FASRON 885 Alameda through 7 October. Shortly after, she moved on to FASRON 112 at Whidby through 5 March 1953. On that date, she was transferred to Aviation Training Unit 601 at NAS Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Kansas, remaining on station through 1 July 1954. Then, she was off to O&R M&S at NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, prior to storage assignment at NAS Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Arizona, for storage from 14 October through 9 March 1955. She was pulled from storage and assigned to O&R M&S at Alameda, remaining in inventory from 10 March 1955 through 22 July. Again, she was transferred to O&R M&S at Corpus Christi on 26 July 1955 through 19 June 1956. On 20 June 1956, she was reassigned to NAATC/Hutchinson, on the ground 28 February 1958. She was returned to Corpus Christi on 2 April 1958 until being returned to Litchfield. She was again placed in storage from 28 April through “falling off paper” on 31 August 1958. She was officially stricken on 6 November 1958 at 4,171 days from delivery. Incredible service history of all who built her, flew her, and maintained her. Flaps Up!

Geoff Goodall ~ 10 January 1947 ~ 5 January 2024

I’m embarrassed to admit that I’ve been caught sleeping at the yoke . . . again. It was while poking at aviation resources for the “Tails Series” [mine – farcebook] that I stumbled upon memorials to Geoff posted on several websites back in January.
Some three years ago, while compiling data for my book – String of Pearls: The Three Wars of the Douglas A-26 Invader – that I encountered Geoff’s work on the web. Had to contact him, even if only by email – his collection of data and personally taken photos of Invaders was overwhelming at the time. He was friendly, accommodating, and only asked that if I used data and/or photos that I provide him with appropriate credits, and he wished me luck on the novel. Later, as the concept germinated for “Tails of the Douglas A-26 Invader” page on facebook, he was again absolutely supportive and generous with his work. His seemingly endless and intensely significant contributions to military aviation heritage is thorough and priceless, with compliments when the project launched and continued wishes for my success. As Tails grew to include the Fairchild C-123 Provider and the Grumman Albatross, I found myself tapping Geoff’s incredible supply of notes and photos. I contacted him again by email this past January with a request to “spend” his fantastic collection of info and photos for the launch of Tails of the Lockheed P2V Neptune . . . but . . . a response was not forthcoming.
These projects have become an increasingly important contribution to the therapy so very much needed for an old Nam dog walker – entertaining, educational, inciteful, and rewarding. The stable of professional and poignant contacts that I have amassed is truly magnificent. For me, personally, to lose such a remarkable friend and resource as Geoff is devastating. For the industry and community to lose such a standard bearer is immeasurable. God Bless you, Geoff. May you rest in eternal peace.

No GHOST!

39318 is the very first standard production P2V-2 from Vega/Burbank – the first of 78 in the block under US Navy contract NOa(S)5247. She is only preceded in the P2V-2 block by 89082/26-1003 which was the frame selected as the platform for the prototype [XP2V-2] of this model. 89082 is also famous as the Truculent Turtle long distance record holder – Australia to the US launched on 29 September 1946 from Perth [previously posted here on 7 March 2024]. Got’a thank Simon Beck for his US War Plane sources, Pam Thomas NNAM for provision of the AHCs, Wayne Mutza for his incredible book (Lockheed P2V Neptune, Schiffer Books © 1996), and the folks at usmilitariaforum [net] for their forum page. 39318, with serial number 26-1003, was made available at Vega/Burbank on 15 June 1947. Not sure why there was such a delay, but she wasn’t taken on charge by the US Navy until October. At that point she was assigned to NATC at NAS Patuxent River, Patuxent, Maryland, remaining on station through August 1948. That August she was reassigned to VC-5 at NAS Moffett Field, Santa Clara, California, where she remained through May 1950. On 19 June 1950 she was transferred to FASRON 103 at NAS Patuxent River, Patuxent, Maryland, and again transferred to VP-26 while at Patuxent. On 13 April 1951, she was transferred to FASRON 109 at NAS Jacksonville, Jacksonville, Florida, then to VP-741 NAS Jacksonville on 25 May 1951. She remained on station at Jacksonville through 13 June 1952. She arrived at O&R NAS Alameda, Alameda, California, 17 June 1952. On 28 January 1953, she was assigned to FASRON 112 at NAS Whidbey Island (NASWI), Oak Harbor, Washington, remaining on station through 5 March 1953. On 16 August 1953, she arrived at NAS Hutchinson, Hutchinson, Kansas, remaining on station. On 22 March 1955, she is reported at O&R NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, returning to NAS Hutchinson on 1 March 1956. The AHC shows her inventoried at NAS Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Arizona, on 25 February 1958, and “dispo’d” to storage on 15 June. That might have been the end of our ship, but Wayne Mutza, in his book - Lockheed P2V Neptune, Schiffer Books © 1996, pg. 262 – reports that our ship was in the possession of Advanced Training Unit 601 (ATU-601) at Corpus Christi. Hmmmm . . . VT-31/ATU-601, commissioned in February 1958, didn’t inventory P2Vs until 1 May 1960. That would suggest that our lady survived some 13 years – an incredible span – but no hours reported on the AHC when she was stricken. Some confusion exists with P2V Neptune [net] tagging our ship – in the only photo I could find – with a SB tail code at VP-2, NAS Miramar, San Diego. I couldn't find paper that would place her at Miramar. Wherever she was and is, she was the first of an incredible block. Flaps up!
Photo: 39318 VP-2 unk-date-loc P2V Neptune dotcom

Total GHOST!

The last of the “89s” . . . 89096 completed production at Vega/Burbank in February 1947. Thanks to Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum – the only source of data available – we have a little bit of history. She was made available to the US Navy under contract NOa(s)3297 on 7 March, remaining at the plant through June 1947. She was assigned serial number 26-1017, the last production P2V-1 to be built in the 026-49-01 block. She was assigned to NAS Miramar, San Diego, California, in July 1947 and remained on station through July 1948. The following month, August, she arrived at NAS Alameda, Alameda, California. There is some notation of “reconditioning” at Naval Air Test Center R&D Patuxent River, Maryland, at this point on the AHC but no date(s) is/are provided. On 28 August 1950, she’s papered at M&S NAS Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas. On 14 December 1950, she was returned to NATC NAS Patuxent River, Patuxent, Maryland, for dispo. She was stricken on 29 May 1952 with 856 hours on the books. No pics. No reported accidents. No reported incidents. Just gone. Flaps up!

Email Change
I’ve come to a point where I’m no longer going to tolerate mediocrity with Spectrum. If you’ve got my [email protected] as my email address . . . I’m cancelling mediocrity. Won’t bother anyone with more traffic in their in box. If you’d like my new address/provider, just send me a PM. Flaps up!

A short-lived GHOST!

89095 was the 12th production P2V-1, model 026-49-01, of a total of 13 that were built at Vega/Burbank. Under contract NOa(s) 3097, she was an un-modified P2V-1, serial number 26-1016, a model 026-49-01. Thanks to ASN [net], Professor Joe Baugher (RIP) [net], and Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum . . . we’ve got history. She was accepted on 21 February 1947 but remained at Vega/Burbank through April, then delivered to and assigned to VP-2 at NAS Miramar. Information is limited and sketchy . . . but on 21 November 1947, she crashed off the coast of San Diego, 9 crew lost, 2 rescued by a submarine. I can’t find any reports of crew members or survivors. The AHC reports that she was “Stricken” (Codes 4-5-N) on 30 November, 273 days from her initial acceptance date. I couldn’t find a photo anywhere, any source, but she may have been one of the ships on the line at NAS Miramar [P2V Neptune net] and/or Arthur Hoffman/P2Neptune net. Flaps up!
Photos:
P2V-1 NAS Miramar via P2VNeptune net
P2V-1 Line NAS Miramar via Arthur Hoffman p2neptune net

Just got another monthly notification from Amazon Books . . . thanks to everyone that has trusted me for a paperback or Kindle upload. Maybe one of these days I will have paid off my formating costs!!!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552993649039

String of Pearls A "Nam Dog Walker" with the audacity to write an semi-fictional aviation novel.

Got'a thank the folks at P2V Neptune [net] for the shot of 126529 - our new cover photo.

She’s a GHOST!

89094 completed assembly at Vega/Burbank in January 1947. Thanks to Pam Thomas of the National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, we’ve got an AHC and history. Under contract NOa(s)3297, she was assigned serial number 26-1015 as the 11th production P2V-1, model 026-49-01, of a total of 13. She was accepted by the US Navy on 7 February 1947 but remained at Burbank through April. She may have never been assigned to a VP squadron – certainly not to VP-2 at NAS Miramar in San Diego like most of the P2V-1s. She appears to have been transferred directly from Burbank to VX-1, NAS Key West, Boca Chica Key, Florida. The primary mission at Air Test & Evaluation Squadron VX-1 would have been testing and evaluation of our ship for applications in anti-submarine warfare. This “Test & Evaluation” might have been quite extensive because she remained in the possession of VX-1 through August 1948. The AHC reflects her having been “Stricken” [7-4-V Cat II] on 31 July 1949. Like several predecessors, Category II classifies depreciation, obsolescence, restoration, and/or serviceability, and only at the election of the Chief of Naval Operations through Naval Air Systems Command. I can find no evidence that our ship ever left Key West intact. If you’ve got pics and/or info . . . please contribute. Flaps up!
Photo - Aerial view of NAS Key West in the 1940s x USN wiki