(OT) P-2 Neptune related Help please

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Learned contributors,

My treasured copy of "Wings of Gold over the Ho Chi Minh trail" has been damaged beyond restoration by a foul water burst in my home.

I have tried all likely sources, Amazon, eBay, ABEBooks, bookfinder.com, even the VO67 Association direct but can't locate a copy for sale.

Does anyone have or know of a copy for sale?

I can pay by cheque or Paypal to suit the vendor.

Thanks for your time and trouble,

Yours sincerely

Be lucky

David (The AvgasDinosaur)

[chevvron]

If you like Neptunes, you might be interested in PHOTO of the DAY... | Blackbushe Airport - The one-stop Forum (http://www.blackbusheairport.proboards.com/thread/3/photo-day?page=64) in the entry for 16 Nov 17.
One of the contributours to this forum (Flyboy) has written 'The P2V Neptune at Blackbushe Airport' and it occurs to me he might be able to help you.
My own experience of them is very limited; I saw them (Dutch Navy I think) a few times flying over the North Sea when I was detached to Sumburgh Airport in the Shetlands for 4 weeks back in '72.

[treadigraph]

When I woz at skool not far from Dunsfold, saw several Dutch Navy Neptunes flogging eastwards over Midhurst towards Dover - wasn't long before it was always an Atlantic. Not quite the same thing... :{

[pineridge]

Back in the fifties I can remember seeing a number of Neptunes parked at Thorney Island near the main road . They had RAF roundels etc. and had a black paint job. I was about 11 years old at the time and think that 22 sqdns,. S55`s were parked at the same spot in later years.
I could be wrong-I usually am.

[Krakatoa]

Avgas Dinosaur

Re your book. I have a book , not for sale, that may provide the information you are looking for.

The Black Bats by Chris Pockock and published by Schiffer Military History Books. The sub title, Cia spy Flights Over China From Taiwan.

One of the last chapters mentions Operations by P2VS into North Vietnam,
The book a number of photographs of P2V and RB69
I obtained my book from that well known SA River

[chevvron]

Back in the fifties I can remember seeing a number of Neptunes parked at Thorney Island near the main road . They had RAF roundels etc. and had a black paint job. I was about 11 years old at the time and think that 22 sqdns,. S55`s were parked at the same spot in later years.
I could be wrong-I usually am.

The RAF certainly did have some Neptunes in the mid '50s; I think (may be wrong) they were a stopgap until Shackleton Mk 3s were available or maybe it was to provide cover as Sunderlands were withdrawn. I thnk Air Pictorial did an article many years ago ('60s)

[Herod]

When I was an Air Force Brat, living at RAAF Pearce in the early sixties, we frequently had Neptunes visiting. According to Wiki (!) 10 Sqn RAAF operated them till '77 (?)

[ian16th]

The RAF definitely had Neptune's in 1954, when I passed out of Boys training, April 54, some of my entry were posted to Topcliffe and worked on them.

[DaveReidUK]

The RAF certainly did have some Neptunes in the mid '50s; I think (may be wrong) they were a stopgap until Shackleton Mk 3s were available or maybe it was to provide cover as Sunderlands were withdrawn.

The RAF received 52 Neptunes under MDAP and they did indeed serve for a relatively short time, from 1952/53 to 1957.

Of those, 30 were scrapped or written off in accidents, 14 went back to the USA and then to Brazil, and 8 to the Argentine Navy.

[izod tester]

There is a Neptune at the RAF Museum at Cosford.

[Warmtoast]

I took this photo at Biggin Hill during the 1954 Royal Observer Corps "Recognition Day". It shows RAF Neptune MR1 WX547 from the Fighter Command Vanguard Flight (1453 Flight) based at Topcliffe in Yorkshire.


http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/Biggin%20Hill%20Early%201950s/RAFNeptune.jpg


Vanguard Flight Neptunes carried out some of the initial Airborne Early Warning Radar trials over the North Sea, but according to Google they were not a success (see quote below).


By the 1950's, the Royal Navy and RAF had started the development of AEW systems. The Royal Navy ordered the development of an AEW Fairey Gannet, whilst using the AN/APS 20 radar equipped Douglas Skyraider from the US as a stopgap, and the RAF set up the "Vanguard Flight", also known as 1453 Flight, equipped with Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune's. They were not a success, and the flight was disbanded after 3 years. Therefore, the only operational AEW systems in use by the British armed forces up until 1970 were operated by the Royal Navy.

[DaveReidUK]

There is a Neptune at the RAF Museum at Cosford.

Yes, though that one never served with the RAF - it's a later variant (P2V-7S/SP-2H, with the auxiliary J34 jets), presented by the Dutch Navy to the RAFM in 1982.

[Discorde]

AD: If the damaged pages are scannable you can convert the book into HTML format, including any photos, readable on browsers. Send a PM if you want me to explain the method I use.

D

[The AvgasDinosaur]

Avgas Dinosaur

Re your book. I have a book , not for sale, that may provide the information you are looking for.

The Black Bats by Chris Pockock and published by Schiffer Military History Books. The sub title, Cia spy Flights Over China From Taiwan.

One of the last chapters mentions Operations by P2VS into North Vietnam,
The book a number of photographs of P2V and RB69
I obtained my book from that well known SA River
Thanks Krakatoa,
I already have that book.
Your time and trouble is much appreciated
Be lucky
David

[The AvgasDinosaur]

AD: If the damaged pages are scannable you can convert the book into HTML format, including any photos, readable on browsers. Send a PM if you want me to explain the method I use.

D
Thanks Discorde,
No they are not scannable except the laminated covers the paper pages are just a muddy mush. Even my insurance company has condemned my book, and three others, since replaced.
Central heating water feed burst in fine spray through plaster into back of book case over few days:ugh:
Thanks for your time.
Be lucky
David