XP4Y-1 Corregidor

The XP4Y‑1 Corregidor was Consolidated Aircraft’s ambitious attempt in the early 1940s to create a four‑engine, long‑range patrol bomber for the United States Navy. Developed as a successor to the P2V Neptune series, the prototype first flew in May 1943 from the Consolidated plant in San Diego. Its design combined a high‑mounted wing with a spacious, fully pressurised fuselage that could accommodate a crew of eight and up to 3,000 lb of ordnance or depth charges for anti‑submarine warfare. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radials, the Corregidor offered a top speed of 310 mph, a service ceiling of 25 000 ft and a range exceeding 3,000 nm, enabling it to patrol the vast Pacific theatre. Advanced radar and magnetic anomaly detection equipment were installed, making it one of the first Navy aircraft to integrate electronic search systems for submarine detection. Although flight testing revealed handling problems and production was cancelled in 1945, the XP4Y‑1’s concepts—large payload capacity, long endurance, and sophisticated sensor suites—directly influenced the post‑war P2V and later maritime patrol designs, cementing its place in aviation history as a pivotal developmental bridge.