The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a long-range, maritime patrol bomber used by the US Navy during World War II and the Korean War. It was developed from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, which was a widely used bomber in WWII. The Liberator was redesigned for the demanding mission of flying long-range maritime patrols. The Privateer differs from the B-24 bomber in having a lengthened fuselage, a prominent single fin, an Erco nose turret, and an updated power plant. In service with the US Navy, the PB4Y-2 flew combat sorties in the Pacific Theater of Operations from late 1944. It was also employed by the French Navy during the French-Indochina War.
The prototype of the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer first flew on September 20, 1943, and it was introduced into service with the US Navy on November 18, 1944. Total Privateer production was 736 aircraft, with the last one being delivered in October 1945. Loudspeaker-equipped PB4Y-2s were used in the Marianas Campaign to encourage Japanese soldiers to surrender. Several Privateers were delivered to the Nationalist China (Taiwan) to carry out reconnaissance missions over the People's Republic of China. However, three of them would be shot down by AA guns for violating its air space. The PB4Y-2B, 2M, 2S, and PB4Y-2K version would also be produced. Its main virtue was its long-range capacity as this aircraft could fly twice as far as the North American PBJ Mitchell, thus being able to cover 4,500 km.
Technical Description
The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a large, four-engine monoplane. Its fuselage was of semi-monocoque all-metal construction. The nose of fuselage featured the distinctive Erco nose turret, which carried two .50-caliber M2 Browning machine guns. The aircraft was fitted with cantilever, shoulder wing. Both the leading and trailing edge of wing tapered towards the tip. The tail assembly consisted of a conventional tailplane, which was mounted high on fuselage, and a large vertical fin and rudder. The aircraft was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, radial piston engines, each one being able to deliver 1,350 horsepower.
Specifications
Type: maritime patrol bomber
Length: 22.73 m (74 feet, 7 inches)
Wing Span: 33.53 m (110 feet)
Wing Area: 97.4 m2 (1,048 square feet)
Height: 9.17 m (30 feet, 1 inch)
Power Plant: four 1,350-HP, Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radial engines.
Maximum Speed: 482 km/h (300 mph)
Range: 4,500 km (2,800 miles)
Service Ceiling: 6,310 m (20,700 feet)
Crew: 11
Armament: twelve 12.7-mm (.50-cal.) M2 Browning machine guns; plus up to 5,800 kg (12,780-lb) of bombs.
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| Above, the PB4Y-2 in flight during WWII. |
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| A Privateer parked on airbase tarmac. Notice the two M2 Browning machine guns in nose of aircraft. |
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| A PB4Y-2 on an airbase in Shanghai, China, in 1945. |