PB4Y questions

[John Beaman]

The attached photo was taken near Wilmington, NC in 1979. Is this a fire bomber with these markings?

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo John,

It probably is. I am looking at LIBERATOR by Alwyn T. Lloyd, pages 467-468 which contain several photos of these fire-fighting aircraft or 'Borate Bombers'. One photo shows a similarily marked Privateer with '127' on the front fuselage and a much modified nose. Your photo seems to show '124'. The firm is Hawkins and Powers of Greybull, Wyoming. I believe the last Privateer fire-fighting aircraft was grounded in 2002 due to the crash of another.
There must be more about these long-lived and well-known aircraft in print or the internet. I would be surprised if AIR ENTHUSIAST did not have at least one article on the subject.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[John Beaman]

Thanks Martin. Makes sense. Too bad they were grounded. I'll bet the sound was awesome!

[Kutscha]

A still from a video I took in 2000 of a PB4Y starting up and taking off from Greybull.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-12/1114844/jvn04.jpg