By 1995 this Hirth Air Tanker Harpoon was being converted to airtanker, but the work was abandoned after the owner John Hirth died in the crash of one of his PV-2 Harpoons on 20 Apr 1997. It was left stored here, with engines and other parts missing. Remnants of the registration are still visible on the fuselage. In early 2007, Gary Hilton acquired this Harpoon with the intention of moving it to his hometown of Lone Jack, MO. By 2009, he had gotten as far as removing the wings and nose (and possibly moving them to Lone Jack), but then his plans seem to have stalled, as the aircraft was still at Buffalo as of 2020. By 2023, it had been moved into the front yard of a house just southeast of the airport, still without its wings and nose.

This PV-2 Harpoon is on display in the storage/restoration compound of the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.

Preserved wearing late WW2 markings. Ex N7459C.

This PV-2 was previously 37202 with the USN. Now parked up on the ramp at Chino and in need of a little attention.

Built in 1940 and one of two stored Harpoon's at Falcon Field.

Built in 1943 and stored on Falcon Field along with various other classic aircraft from the 1940's.

Still looking in very good condition and stored on Falcon Field.

Photographed in the restoration yard of the Commemorative AF Museum at MAF. Previously identity was 37537 and she is on loan from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola.

When International Air Response (formerly T&G) moved their base of operation from Chandler Memorial to Coolidge Municipal Airport, they scrapped many of the redundant propliners that had been stored on the field. This aircraft was saved from the scrapman and I believe it is still parked at the airport in 2018.

Delivered to US Navy as PV-2 BuAer 37507 in May 1945. Sold as N6643D in August 1957. N86492 from 1962 and converted to agricultural sprayer. Later stored at Chandler AZ and Mesa for many years.

Built in 1943 as PV-1 33327 and transferred to Canada as 2198. Sold in 1948 for civil use. Converted by Howard Aero to Super Ventura standard in 1958 and registered N240P. Badly damaged by fire in 1994 after fuel leak.

Delivered to the USN as BuNo 37633 in August 1945, she was in storage at Litchfield Park by January 1946. Sold at NAS North Island in May 1957 as N7454C with 36 hrs TT! To Aircraft Specialties August 1964 and converted to a sprayer. Last flown in September 1985 and stored at Falcon Field since then. Now sports a star and bar insignia. A portion of the civilian registration is barely visible to the right of the insignia.

Former Hirth Air Tankers #38 wfu in 1996 and stored at Johnson County Airport in Buffalo, Wyoming.

Ex-Hirth firebomber, this classic aircraft was in surprisingly good condition

EAA's "Aluminum Overcast", ex USAAF 44-85740, in a low fly-by at '83 Oshkosh.

EAA's "Aluminum Overcast", ex USAAF 44-85740, in a low fly-by at '83 Oshkosh. This side carries the nose art "High Life".

Delivered to the USN as BuNo 37444 in May 1945 it was stricken from US Navy rolls in December 1956 with 808 hours TT. Sold as N7086C in 1957 and converted to a firebomber by 1961. Also fitted with sprayer bars. Operated by a number of companies with tanker ID's D20, F62, F43 and finally 112 in April 1979. Leased to T&G for the 1981 thru 83 seasons and stored at Chandler between seasons. Last flown and stored at Chandler from about 1986.