Photo of crew on top of PB4Y-1 (modified B-24)

[windhund116]

Entire crew of VB-109, before shipping out to SWPA for assignment. Amazing how long the wingspan is, of these birds.

(click on image)

 

[bdefen]

A Davis airfoil. A single-rudder version (Privateer?) was a fire-fighting aircraft operating at times at BIFC/NIFC here in Boise in the 90s. My home is about 1.5 miles away from the airport. Many times, it would go right over my neighborhood on approach. What a sound!!!

 

[Milosh]

A Davis airfoil. A single-rudder version (Privateer?) was a fire-fighting aircraft operating at times at BIFC/NIFC here in Boise in the 90s. My home is about 1.5 miles away from the airport. Many times, it would go right over my neighborhood on approach. What a sound!!!

Watched one start up and take off in 2000 at Greybull Wyoming.

 

[Spitfire Steve]

Gosshawk Unlimited in AZ look after a Privateer at Casa Grande

 

[GreenKnight121]

A Davis airfoil. A single-rudder version (Privateer?) was a fire-fighting aircraft operating at times at BIFC/NIFC here in Boise in the 90s. My home is about 1.5 miles away from the airport. Many times, it would go right over my neighborhood on approach. What a sound!!!

The single-tail PB4Y-2 Privateers had non-turbosupercharged P&W R1830 Twin Wasps instead of the turbocharged P&W R1830 Twin Wasps of the B-24s and twin-tailed PB4Y-1s.

The fire-bomber conversions had their engines replaced by Wright R2600 Cyclones (from B-25s) in the early 1970s, as they were more-numerous and performed better at low speeds & rapidly-varying power settings.

Note the timeline of this survivor: Aerial Visuals - Airframe Dossier - Consolidated P4Y-2, s/n 59701 USN, c/r N6884C {2}

Also: Convair PB4Y-2 Privateer

A number of ex-USCG Privateers with their glazed noses were converted into the aerial fire bombing role by Transaire Spraying Company of Canyon, Texas. The R-1830-94 Twin Wasps were replaced by more powerful 1700-hp Wright R-2600 Cyclones. These conversions (known as *Super Privateers*) could be identified by the presence of short-stack exhausts which protruded around the circumference of the nacelles. They could carry up to 18,000 pounds of fire-retardant chemical. These planes were operated by the US Forest Service and several Super Privateers were operated by Hawkins & Powers Aviation of Greybull, Wyoming, which used them in the fire-fighting role under contract to the US Forest Service. Some of these aircraft had their nose glazing replaced with North American F-86 Sabre canopies for improved visibility. As of 1997, at least five of these fire-fighting Privateers were still flying. All PB4Y-2/P4Y-2 Privateers modified for firefighting were retired by the US Forest Service after the crash of Privateer N7620C (ex BuNo 66260) on July 18, 2002