Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a four‑engine maritime patrol aircraft developed by Consolidated Aircraft in the final years of World War II. An evolution of the Navy’s B‑24 Liberator, the Privateer featured a longer, single‑tail fin, a stretched fuselage, and a dedicated radar dome that gave it improved stability and better long‑range reconnaissance capability. First flown in 1945, the PB4Y‑2 entered squadron service in 1946, where it quickly proved indispensable for anti‑submarine warfare, convoy escort, and ocean‑area patrols during the early Cold War. Its powerplant consisted of four Pratt & Whitney R‑1830‑92 radials delivering 1,200 horsepower each, driving large, tapered propellers that provided a top speed of roughly 300 mph and a range exceeding 4,000 miles. The aircraft carried a formidable defensive armament of up to twelve .50‑caliber machine guns and could be fitted with a variety of bombs, depth charges, and early guided weapons. The Privateer’s versatility extended to transport, weather‑reconnaissance, and electronic intelligence missions, earning it a reputation for reliability in harsh maritime environments. Though retired from U.S. service by the early 1960s, the PB4Y‑2 influenced later patrol designs and remains a celebrated example of post‑war adaptation of a classic bomber platform.

Consolidated Aircraft

Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification