The Royal Air Force Lockheed SP-2H Neptune, is on external display, to the rear of the visitor centre, at Cosford Royal Air Force Museum.
The museum is located in Shropshire and is situated next to an active airfield, this is the only place in the Midlands where you can get close to so many breathtaking aircraft for free.
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"The P-2H Neptune is a land based maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft. It was designed during WWII and is powered by two piston engines and two jet pods to assist in take-off and for extra power when required to reach submarine contacts. Its first flight was on 15 May 1945 and squadron delivery was in March 1947. More than 1100 were built and no other post war maritime patrol aircraft has been built in such large numbers.
Bought by several armed forces, the Neptune served with the Royal Air Force in six squadrons of Coastal Command and on one flight (No.1453 Flight) for Airborne Early Warning Trials during the period 1952 to 1957." (
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Registration: 204
Construction Number: 726-7251
Code Number: V-04
Military Unit: RAFM Cosford
Model Lockheed SP-2H Neptune
Operator: Royal Air Force Museum
Airport: RAF Cosford (EGWC), UK - England
An information board located in front of the aircraft gives the following information;
Lockheed SP-2H Neptune - Long-range maritime patrol US 1947
The Neptune exhibited here is an SP-2H flown by the Royal Netherlands Navy.
The Royal Air Force operated the earlier P2V-5 version shown in the photographs, with 2x.50 cal machine guns each in nose and dorsal turrets, and two 20mm cannon in a tail turret.
The Neptune started development in 1941 as a maritime patrole and anti-submarine warfare aircraft for the United States Navy. It entered US Navy service in 1947.
More than 1000 Neptunes were built and were exported to countries including Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Republic of China, France and the Netherlands.
By the late 1970s the type was becoming obsolete for military use and by the mid-1980s all had been withdrawn from military service. Some continued(2016) in civilian use as fire-fighting tankers (water bombers).
Four RAF Coastal Command Squadrons - Nos 36,203,210 and 217- were equipped with Neptunes from 1952. They were a stop-gap whilst the RAF waited for the Shackleton and by 1957 all had been returned to the USA.
Crewe: 7-9
Engines: Two 3700 hp Wright R- 3350 turbo-compound
radials, & two 3400 lbf (2759 kW)Westinghouse
J-34 turbojets in wing pods
Cruising Speed: 207mph (333km/h)
Range: 2157mi (3540km)
Airframe: Metal
Skin: Metal
Wingspan: 104ft (31.6m)
Length: 78ft (23.5m)
Loaded weight: 79,895lb (35,240kg)
Armament: 8000lb (3630kg) of internal stores which could
include torpedoes, bombs or depth charges.
MLD Lockheed SP-2H Neptune 204 Pre-Flight, Fueling, Start Up and Take Off can be seen at the following YouTube link. (
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