The United States Navy Observation Squadron 67 was purported to be an observation unit, as evidenced by the unit patch sewn into their uniforms depicting an aircraft sending signals to the ground.
However, this was merely a cover-up for their actual mission, which involved the exact opposite: they were listening to what was happening on the ground instead of interfering.
Using dropped microphones and state-of-the-art sensors, the VO-67’s missions were set up to help the military gain intelligence on the enemy’s movement along the Ho Chi Minh trail.
The missions were so secretive that not every official in the Navy knew about the squadron or the kind of activities they performed, and even the members were not told about their objectives until right before deployment.
However, they had luck on their side. Despite the risks involved in their covert operations, the VO-67 team had the advantage of flying one of the most effective and versatile aircraft of the postwar era: Lockheed’s P-2, a naval plane designed for maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare…
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The B-29 was the Superfortress, NOT the "Super Bomber." Who writes this crap?
I just don't understand the clips of the P-3 Orion in between.
the P-2 spawned mulitple different aircraft including the P-3 Orion, P-6 Poseidon. E2 Hawkeye, E3 Sentry, and all RC-135 Variants. An incredible legacy
The video at 2:54 depicts a Lockheed P-3 Orion, not a Neptune. You have a great channel, but sometimes your use of archival videos is sloppy.
Screw Robert McNamara; it will always be the P2V.
Wonder what airport security would make of that 😅
Now I know why the fire-bomber company in Missoula International Airport is named Neptune Aviation: After the planes they use.
P-2J's flew until 2010
As to the operation to monitor enemy traffic on the Ho Chi Minh trail for Igloo White the OP-2E crews and aircraft were mostly tasked with seeding the sonobouys using Norden bomb sights and accurately recording the locations so that data collected would have greater target value (this is not to diminish their role, they were critical to the mission). The Air Force became directly involved in flying missions and transmitting data in late November of '67, not mid '68 as mentioned in the video. Perhaps that's a paperwork outcome, but since I flew those missions I can attest to the late November date. We flew another Lockheed aircraft, the EC-121R on three race track patterns over the sensors, 24 hours per day (each mission 8 hours on station). For any interested, look up 553rd Reconnaissance Squadron, lots of info on the net.
You missed talking about the P2V Poseidon.
This is supposed to be about the P2 but there is so much video showing the P3. Did you not watch the B-roll to make sure you had the right aircraft? This seems to happen a lot on your channels. The video is about one specific thing but the photos and videos don’t match and show a totally different vehicle or aircraft instead.
Neptune Aviation's firefighting mission deserved more coverage.
For relatives of 7:06 Paul Milius (Povilas Milius, lithuanian)
Comment for the algorithm
This plane reminds me of the B-25.
The civilian fire fighting version is on mounted display at the Missoula Montana Airport and smoke jumper training facility.
My first flight instructor flew P-2's in the Navy. I heard a lot of great stories about this aircraft.
So why do you show P3's as P2's?
why… do.. you… keep… showing… footage… of… a… P3 Orion…????? Yes, we can tell the difference… P3 = 4 engines, P2 = 2 engines… 😛
In Vietnam War…US and South Vietnamese Ground Forces didn’t allowed to attack VC in Lao and Cambodia but Lao and Cambodia let VC forces on their land to bring supplies to against South Vietnam Forces.
I used to see these flying into Hong Kong in the 1950's. They were flying recon missions along the coast of China, the commies would sometimes attack them and there were some that landed at Kai Tak airport with battle damage and an engine on fire. These patrols were very risky, the intel they collected must have been quite valuable to take these risks. They were obviously tough planes that could take a beating and keep on flying.
Well done.