Lockheed P-2 Neptune – Photos & Video

The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to September 1962) was a Maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and was replaced in turn by the Lockheed P-3 Orion. Designed as a land-based aircraft, the Neptune never made a carrier landing, although a small number of aircraft were converted and deployed as carrier-launched, stop-gap nuclear bombers which would have to ditch or recover at land bases. The type was successful in export and saw service with several armed forces.

Vir: Lockheed P-2 Neptune on Wikipedia

The Lockheed P-2 Neptune was a versatile and long-lived aircraft that served in various roles and countries for over four decades. It was designed by Lockheed as a land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the US Navy, replacing the older PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon models. The P-2 Neptune first flew in 1945 and entered service in 1947, with a total of 1,177 units built until 1956. The P-2 Neptune had a distinctive feature of having both piston and jet engines, which gave it extra power and speed when needed.
The P-2 Neptune was used in several conflicts, such as the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Beagle conflict and the Falklands War, performing reconnaissance, surveillance, bombing, gunship and electronic warfare missions. The P-2 Neptune was also exported to several allies of the US, such as Japan, Australia, Canada, France, Netherlands and Argentina. The P-2 Neptune was eventually replaced by the more advanced Lockheed P-3 Orion in the 1960s and 1970s, but some of them remained in service until the 1980s or even later as firebombers or research aircraft.