Warbird Information Exchange

I just heard about a dozen P2V Neptunes assigned to VC-5 that were used as an interim measure until the AJ-2 Savage could be built. These were to be carrier launched but were disposable as they couldn't be recovered. They were intended to be the U.S. Navy's first nuke strike capability. I know at least one was launched from U.S.S. FDR (CVA-42) in 1950, I assume for a test. Does anybody know if more were launched? How long did this program last? Any other information would be welcome.

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I can't find confirmation about the Neptunes being disposable, but One P2V-2 and 11 P2V-3C aircrtaft were modified as carrier launched nuclear bombers. They were stripped by deleting the nose cannon and dorsal turret as well as other gear to carry a 9700lb 14-kiloton MK 1. atom bomb. One was fitted with a dummy arrestor hook and used for land-based trial landings, but no Neptune ever landed on a carrier...inlike a slightly later Lockheed product, the Hercules.

While they couldn't land back on the carrier, I don't think they were considered "Disposable" in the same way a ship-launced cat-Hurricane was. It would probably depend on the target, etc. In some cases it might have been more feasable for the crew to return to the fleet area and bail out.

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I got the impression that in the event of a nuclear war that these aircraft would make deep penetration strikes in Soviet Union and then fly to a rendevouz point where the crew would ditch or bail out and be picked up by sub. The aircraft were disposable but not the crew. Or maybe the aircraft were expendible if necessary would be a better way to put it. Regardless it was apparently a stop gap measure.

Thanks for the info guys!

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Scott Rose
Editor-In-Chief/Webmaster
Warbirds Resource Group - Warbird Information Exchange - Warbird Registry

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