Neptune '216' in a frozen landscape on a cold early winter morning, on it's way to the head of runway 28 for take off. The last Dutch Neptunes were phased out between 1979-1982. '216' was taken out of service on November 7, 1980.

Based at Naha.

Operated by 25F from Lorient/Lann-Bihoué (LFRH).

On standby at Paso Robles Fire Attack Base. Carries the firebombing number "16". Constructed as a P2V-7 and taken on charge new by the US Navy in 1959 as 140963. Joined the Aero Union Corporation at Chico, California as N716AU in 1986 for conversion to firebombing tanker configuration. Transferred to Bravo Airlines Inc of Opa Locka, Florida in 2007.

A nest of old bolts and nuts with some paint around it in one photo. Visible on the picture are P-2E's N203EV (c/n 426-5228, ex BuNo 128382) and N206EV/145 (c/n 426-5363, ex BuNo 131482) destined for Evergreen, HU-16E's N116FB (c/n 461, ex BuNo 148325 and JMSDF 9052), N112FB (c/n 463, ex BuNo 148328, ex JMSDF 9055), unmarked but N2660L (ex c/n 374, ex BuNo 137901), N118FB (c/n 9304, ex RCAF 9304), on top SA-16A N122FB (c/n 218, ex USAF 51-7168), HU-16E N125FB (c/n 73, ex BuNo 141282), N119FB (c/n 456, ex RCAF 9308), and HU-16B N113FB (c/n 322, ex USAF 51-7244), all of a company named Chalk's.

Former US Navy BuNo 147948 was retired to MASDC on 11 October 1975 and struck of charge in 1978. The Neptune was civilianized as N80232 for Central Air Service 1989, apparently never used and stored at Avra Valley. It's registration was cancelled 2018, but the airframe was still present in 2022.

Year by year, Neptune 203's condition is getting worse. After is active service life it was given to the fire brigade of Hato, which let to the gradual demise of the aircraft.

The mortal remains of a once proud Neptune, having been charred as a fire trainer. The tail-fin (which carried the local code 'H' instead of the more familiar 'V') is displayed outside the gate of the Hato military base at the other end of the airport

Photo via Charles Caruana.

Last flown by VC-8 from NAS Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico, withdrawn to MASDC in June 1980. Sold to Hawkins and Powers as N22166 in January 1990 and re-registered as N138HP in June 1990. Remained in storage in one of the scrapyards at Davis Monthan until re-located to Greybull in 1995 where it remained in storage as a spares donor.

ex USN 149119

Delivered to the US Navy as P2V-7S 147963 in 1960. Redesignated as an SP-2H in 1962. Stored at Davis-Monthan AFB in 1975. Transferred to the Smithsonian Institution in 1994 but remained at Davis-Monthan AFB. Still there in 2025.