The famed P2V-1 89082 The Truculent Turtle at Floyd Bennett NAS, New York, 1946. Piloted by Cmdrs T Davis and E P Rankin, it flew nonstop from Perth, Australia, to Columbus, Ohio, September 29 to October 1, 1946 - a distance of 11,235 miles (18,081km). Although known as The Truculent Turtle, the nose-art only ever carried the name The Turtle.

BuNo 126514 the first P2V-6 showing off the stainless steel engine nacelles that were part of the improvements in this version. It carries its constructor’s number (6001) on the nose and the tail bumper.

During its long career, the Lockheed P2V Neptune evolved considerably in format. The prototype, XP2V-1 BuNo 48237, first flew on May 17,1945, at Burbank, California. It carried Lockheed’s winged star logo on the nose, below which was later added the word ‘Neptune’.

Another view of P2V-2 3934 ‘HD-9’.

Carrying its constructor’s number (5001) on the nose, the first prototype P2V-5 taxying out for a test flight. The -5 later carried wingtip tanks. The background is worth studying!

The RAF used the P2V-5 as the Neptune MR.1. Procured through the USAF, they carried Air Force serial numbers for test and delivery. Illustrated is 51-15915, which became WX494 with the RAF. It carries the ‘last two’ of its constructor’s number (5029) on the nose and the tail bumper