Hoping to find out the Identity of the Branson Harpoon

[GARY HILTON]

This Harpoon is bound to keep her secret. Taigh, wing roots are painted over, both sides....The data plates on the throttle quadrant are gone...and have searched the area around the sliding window...no joy.

Thanks for looking Andy.

I can't remember where I had heard of the two Harpoons in Calexico, but I do remember that I was searching for them long before I had bought the Lockheed twin book.

[Taigh Ramey]

The plate I am talking about on the forward side of he throttle stand is not the two normal date plates below the engine controls. This plate is about 2 inches long, 1/2 inch wide aluminum with rounded edges. It has one attaching screw on each end. It's almost oval shaped with an embossed construction number. It is on the forward side of the whole throttle stand assembly. I found this on our PV-2 from the nose side of the throttle stand. Look for a small plate hard to spot.

I have a picture of ours at home but I'm at NWOC now so I can't post it. Sorry but search all over that console, forward right side as I recall. Hopefully it's there or two mounting holes where it used to be anyway.

[Fouga23]

For the overpainted wingroots: Put duct tape on it and yank it off. If painted badly, the paint will come with the tape.

[Taigh Ramey]

I was able to access the photo from the iPad and just signed up for a photo-bucket account.



Here is a shot of the data plate I'm talking about. It's on a vertical frame of the throttle console, RH side. The cables running through the photo are manual drop tank releases. This shot is looking aft from the nose. This plate would be near the copilots left foot

[GARY HILTON]

Taigh, thanks for your help, I did find the tag on other side of throttle console...it read...2607. It does not agree with any PV-2 serial numbers that I have. I believe that I have found the ID of her, but will hold back for now for a little more positive info.

Yep, I do have duck tape!
Thanks Fouga23!
G

[Taigh Ramey]

2607 doesn't fit anything I have either. So much for that idea

[airnutz]

Taigh, thanks for your help, I did find the tag on other side of throttle console...it read...2607.

Sounds like a C-60 construction number, but probably not, huh?

[hercrat]

Thanks to Taigh, I went looking on the PV-1 of ours to find those serial number locations. Found the tag on the control pedestal (we have 2 as one was recovered separately). Neither make sense as to a serial for either aircraft as we know the identity. In fact, one is metal and the other is plastic!
Next I looked for the stenciling under the pilots window and on the first wing ribs outboard of the nacelles. Nothing.
So perhaps these are specific to the Harpoon. Or maybe Lockheed began with the sequence at the beginning of the PV-2 line. Or perhaps these are reference numbers from contracted manufacturers who supplied the completed units.
After all these years I still find it a challenge to understand the 'Lockheed Logic' of serial numbers!

How did the rest of the recovery go?

[GARY HILTON]

Sorry it's been so long getting back to everyone. Will fill in some pictures later. It took three loads to get the PV-2 off the property. As stated earlier, the aircraft was very much gutted. My son and I had to leave Branson Saturday morning to get the L-18 horizontal stab, elevator, vert. fin, and rudder to Atlanta, Ga. (part of the deal). We didn't get back to Branson until 2 in the morning Monday. Jeff and I finished up cutting the center section and loading it on the trailer, and had it to the salvage yard in Springfield, Mo by 10 Am. We had to hurry to get home before the predicted snow hit the Kansas City area.

I did get the ID for the old girl. She is 15-1468 37502 N7269C May you rest in peace

[gary1954]

15-1468 37502 N7269C May you rest in peace

and another one is gone

[B 25 C]

I'm glad you found the information on it.

[XL446]

Many thanks indeed for both those identities, Gary! (The Harpoon and the Lodestar that's going to replace it.)
If it's 15-1468 / N7269C, that explains why I couldn't find any trace of it at Waukesha, WI, a couple of years ago. But at least that means I've missed only 1 frame in my 'survivors' photo hunt instead of 2. ('Survivors' = after Roy Blewett's reference work.)

However... some people say I go over the top in driving long distances between two survivors to photograph. But did I get that right? You drove all the way from Branson, MO to Atlanta, GA and back, in one weekend, towing a trailer? Is that called dedication or what?

[JohnB]

I did get the ID for the old girl. She is 15-1468 37502 N7269C May you rest in peace

Anyone planning on letting Joe Braugher's site know?

If not, say so and I'll do it. If nothing else, the old girl deserves a mention there.

[GARY HILTON]

JohnB, I'd say go ahead and inform the Joe Braugher site.

XL446, My son Jeff and I had to rent a Ford F150 to deliver the horizontal stab, elevator, vertical fin, and rudder, to Grasso's shop in NE Atlanta. The turbo in my Dodge started making all kinds of noise when a load was put on the engine...didn't want to risk the 1400 mile round trip. We left the trailer in Branson...put the whole tail unit in the 51/2' bed, along with the 10' long fiberglass fairing (from N339) , rudders, and the B-17 wheel we dropped off in Tupilo, Ms on the way back home. With Walmart sisal twine to tie all down, The Clampetts would have been proud of us.

[GARY HILTON]

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t120 ... CF1060.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t120 ... CF1061.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t120 ... CF1062.jpg
http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t120 ... CF1069.jpg