AP-2E Neptune - Fort Rucker, AL - Static Aircraft Displays on Waymarking.com

The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the US Navy prior to September 1962) was a Maritime patrol and ASW aircraft. It was developed for the United States Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and being replaced in turn with the Lockheed P-3 Orion. Designed as a land-based aircraft, the Neptune never made a carrier landing, although a small number of aircraft were converted and deployed as carrier launched stop-gap nuclear bombers which would have to ditch or recover at land bases. The type was successful in export and saw service with several armed forces.

The aircraft on display was constructed as a P2V-5, entering service with the United States Navy in 1953. In 1966 it was taken on Strength/Charge by the United States Army with s/n 131485, the Navy BuNo, and converted into an AP-2E. It was fitted with SIGINT/ELINT equipment and operated by the 1st Radio Research Company based at Cam Ranh Bay. The U.S. Army's 1st Radio Research Company (Aviation), call sign "Crazy Cat", based at Cam Ranh Bay in South Vietnam, used the AP-2E as an electronic "ferret" aircraft to intercept low-powered tactical voice and morse code radio signals.

Both the R-3350 piston engines and underwing J-34 jet engines ran on AvGas, giving a universal fuel system.

While the aircraft should have been technically designated an RP-2E due to its mission, it was given the non-standard designation of AP-2E to disguise its true function.

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Type of Aircraft: (make/model): AP-2E Neptune Tail Number: (S/N): 131485 Construction:: original aircraft Location (park, airport, museum, etc.): U. S. Army Aviation Museum inside / outside: outside Other Information:: The aircraft is part of the outdoors display of the U. S. Army Aviation Museum at Ft. Rucker. Access restrictions: The aircraft is displayed outside. There is no fence. Daylight hours would be best for visiting. The aircraft is located on an active Army base.

Visit Instructions:
Photo of aircraft (required - will be interesting to see if the aircraft is ever repainted or progress if being restored)
Photo of serial number (required unless there is not one or it is a replica)
Photo(s) of any artwork on the aircraft (optional but interesting)

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