pb4y2privateer

PB4Y-2 BuNo 59397 assigned to VPB-106.

Fatal plane crash of Consolidated PB4Y-2, BuNo 59554, in San Diego on 22 November 1944. See: www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/consolidated-pb4y-2-privateer/ Consolidated Vultee PB4Y-2 Privateer, Bu. No. 59554, took off on its first test flight. A company crew of six men were aboard. Shortly after takeoff at 12:20 p.m., the left outboard wing of the airplane separated. The airplane immediately went out of control and crashed near a residential area in Loma Portal, a short distance west of the airfield. The wing panel struck the roof of a house at 3121 Kingsley Street. All six crew members were killed. The house was occupied but there were no persons injured inside. The wing section was recovered and the cause of the separation was quickly discovered. 98 of the 102 bolts which secured it to the inner wing section had never been installed. Two workers who were responsible for installing these missing bolts, and two inspectors who had signed off the work as having been properly completed, were fired.

PB4Y-2 "Indian Made." Allegedly Bureau Number 59505, later re-named "Redwing" when transferred to VPB-123.