Martin P5M Marlin

I flew as Radar Operator in Crew 5 in VP-47 from Feb. 1963 to May 1965. This time frame included a tour in SE Asia flying out of Da Nang Bay and Sangley Point P.I. The aircraft was relatively slow, very noisy (especially w /JATO) and it was roomy inside. We had a fire in our starboard engine departing Buckner Bay. Fun and interesting times not regretted.

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I was radio /panel in VP-47 stationed at Whidbey. We never had P2V's flew all over the far east in the beast, and lost an engine with 2 crews aboard. Everyone was in ditching position before the pilot even announced "ditching" we went into Buckner Bay, and waited for the Sally to come into port and change our engine. we transitioned to P3A's at Moffett, and went back to another tour....

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Oh what memories...I was in VP44 in Norfolk in the late 50's or early 60's and thats where i made 2nd class AMH and worked in the Airframes shop with Chief Morris, Tufo, Matt Graff...and a bunch of other guys...Chief Simcanich was also my mentor...had a great time..i know the sea plane base is all gone now along with the NADEP.All moved to other places..VP44 was a great squadron to be attched to. I remember being stuck in the engine bay trying to get some information from the sun strand unit.also having to drop the search lite on the ramp because it caught on fire...also the steak and potatoes, coffee and green peas cooking in the Gally...we all wore Orange flight suits, I still like the brown kackie ones best.Also while in Bremuda because we hit a LOG floating in the bay and tore a hole in the stbd float then after we received a new one from Norfolk we installed it then all the crew went to the EM club and got S*** face, and trying to walk back to the barracks our plane capt tripped on one of the big anchor chaind that lined the side walk and broke his leg.While he lay screaming on the ground we asked him what leg he hurt, he said Number ONE Number One.after laughing our heads off..we all went back to Norfolk with an Engine change faceing us...Aso being tied up in San Juan along with a sea plane tender i cant remember her name. Also haveing my first born Debbie and my second Theresa...all are all well now...I stayed in the Navy and served 23 yrs...made Senior Chief in VF32 and later retired in Jacksonville...if any one wants to E mail me about the good time feel free....By BY

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Flew P5M-1 Buno 135469 with crew 12 (The Deadly Dozen) with VP-45 from NOB BERMUDA 59-60. Great times with great guys flying all over the Bermuda Triangle and the usual
ports of call for a seaplane squadron pre-Vietnam era.
Loved the airplane, thrilling to fly low enough to leave contrails in the water, all hatches open, hand-dropping PDC's and smokes at the "Now Now Now" as we crossed over the target. Anybody remembers those days drop me a line on E-mail.

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I was in a P5M-2 group on North Island in 1957. I'm trying to locate a friend who loaned me money and I didn't
repay . This friends name was Henrick or Headrick he was from Pennsylvania . I don't remember if I was in VP 29 30 31 0r 42 . I did get the pleasure of flying aboard the plane as a aviation Structual Mechanic, and the schooling I recieved in hydraulic's which served me well later in life .

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I was in ATU501 from 1958 to 1960 flew on PBM P2v and mostly p5m1 as radio operator. We trained navigators went to gitmo, bermuda, and all over the Carribean. We were in Corpus Christi, Texas. Lots of good memories. It is funny how you only remember the good stuff.

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Hi, Was with vp=40 oct.1956-1960

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Stationed at Gitmo 1951-1954 on station keeper duty but was always tad to the PBM and P5M squadrons for engine work. Most
of my work was on the Turbo Compound 3350. Lots of good guys
in those squadrons. Played baseball for the base against the
Cuban teams. They were really good. We did OK too. Anybody from that era send me a email

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Hi guys. Flew both -1 and -2 P5's. VP-40 Crew 3, Radar Tech '57-'60, started as 2nd radio. Loved the P5, even got a little stick time in, but the APS-44 was a real dog, never full up. Being small I was tail float guy. BTW, it was VP-40 (not VP-46) who took over VP-42's boats when prevaling winds prevented us from getting to Hawaii. Lots of memories, losing engines, rigging ships and Chinese sand bars. Lovely 8-10 hour patrols at 300-1200 AGL with all hatches open, steak and potatoes cooked in flight on the 3 burner cooktop. Watching one of our 'boats' crash on landing in Iwakuni, (all got out). Swimming off the A /C in Buckner Bay, Okinawa, diving off the wing, gorgeous water and jelly fish. Trading flight rations for San Miguel and pineapples in Daveo Bay, Mindanao on overnight bouy watch. Bouy watches were a delight overnight in the tropics. Buying a banka-boat in Daveo and then losing it because it wouldn't fit in the bomb bay with the doors closed (even the nuclear depthcharge side was to small). R and R in Hong Kong, went 3 times. Fighting the Cavite fire. I remember Mom's Place and the Rose Garden but not LuLu's! Took my '56 Pontiac to the PI on my 2nd tour, was I ever King S***! Left it with my brother when I was discharged, who sold it for 6000 pisos when he left. Wonderful squadron, wonderful airplane, great shipmates, delightful girls in town.

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What a great Aircraft. No greater thrill than to be aboard for a take-off using Jato. Really enjoyed my tour with the flying boats at Whidbey Island, VP-47.

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I began with the first PBM1's in Summer of 42 Iceland,Bermuda, etc. I was also at different timesin TTSA,VP55,VP74,VPB74,VP74 again,VP-MS-10,VP40,VP45 and VP49. I was in major crash near Haiti 31 Jan of 49 in VP40 & this one was PBM5E bureau 84695. I began as RM3 before aviation rates and served as ARM. etc. Electronics CPO, Squadron Maintenace CPO and finally as Leading Chief, VP49 retiring Oct of 1963 from P3A's.roy

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Was Radio Operator on P5M in Bermuda 62-64. Our Squadron, VP49, then transitioned over to P3 Orions. Have been in contact with several members of squadron

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VP-49 October 1954 until May 1957. PPC EA-4,
EA-7. "Woodpecker" squadron call sign.

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1st tour VP46 Sangley Point PI Jan 1959 back to North Island. LTJG PPC RC 8 before being relieved by LCDR. Transitioned to P2V5F and P2V7 before transferred to VT31 Jan 1963.

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I was stationed at North Island, San Diego and . I was in VP-31 and flew as crew chief on a p2v neptune. We also had a few P5M, but was not ever able to get a flight on one. Got to do some engine work on one once

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never flew the p5m but puy ton fuel in them 1961 /1963 while station at nob bermuda the only flight crew members i knew was ad3willis ad stoner i was with station supply fuel farm it was a great tour

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I'm a former aircrewman with VP-40 from 1965-67 and an author and historian on Martin seaplanes. I published the first book on the P5M Marlin in 1994 which is now available on CD in PDF format. I also offer videos, flight manuals, prints and drawings on these aircraft, including the PBM Mariner. If interested please contact me for additional information.

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My first flying experience in the Navy was as a 2nd Mech on a P5M-1 ATU-501 NAS Corpus Christi, Texas in 1958. We used the Flying Boats for hands-on NAV Training Classrooms for Multi Engine pilots and navigators later called NFO's. I loved the experience...in January of 1959 we flew a Nav traing flight to GITMO at the time of Castro's takeover of Cuba. GITMO City was closed to us but HATUEY Beer was plentiful at the on base clubs. We drank and swam in the bay then slept on the seaplne parking ramp next to our flying boat. Great time with great fellow crewmembers. I loved the time a crewed on P5Ms. My next assignment wqas to Pine Island AV-12 out of San Diego and 2 WESPAC Cruises.
I could go on forsever about the great times. If you were a part of ATU-501 / VT-29 1958-1960 or crew on Pine Island AV-12 1960-1962, drop me a line.

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