Privateer (Total: 1, Canadian: 1, Group 0)

Consolidated Privateer

(RCAF Photo) Consolidated Model 32 RY-3 Privateer C. Mk. IX, RCAF (Serial No. JT973), Rockcliffe Ice Wagon.

The Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer is an American World War II and Korean War era patrol bomber of the United States Navy derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using B-24s with only minor modifications as the PB4Y-1 Liberator, and along with maritime patrol Liberators used by RAF Coastal Command this type of patrol plane was proven successful. A fully navalised design was desired, and Consolidated developed a dedicated long-range patrol bomber in 1943, designated PB4Y-2 Privateer. In 1951, the type was redesignated P4Y-2 Privateer. A further designation change occurred in September 1962, when the remaining Navy Privateers (all having previously been converted to drone configuration as P4Y-2K) were redesignated QP-4B.

The RCAF operated a single RY-3 Privateer (RAF Liberator C.IX), (Serial No. JT973), ex-USN RY-3 (BuNo. 90021), aka the "Rockcliffe Ice Wagon". It was on loan from the RAF from 1946-1948. JT973 was used for icing research by the RCAF Experimental & Proving Establishment in cooperation with the National Research Council, and was based at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario. A lack of spare parts kept her grounded much of the time, and was scrapped in 1948 or 1949. Wikipedia and Harold Skaarup web page

YouTube Pivateer

Wikipedia Wikipedia Privateer

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

Privateer JT973, C. Mk. IX

s/n JT973

m/d Model 33

JT 973

Ex USN RY3, their serial 90021, RAF Liberator C. Mk. IX. First "Rockcliffe Ice Wagon". Used for measurement of natural icing conditions and development of electrical de-icing systems. Scientific equipment installed and operated by the National Research Council. The wing de-icing system developed using this aircraft would later be used on the CF-100. Generally referred to as "Liberator RY3" in RCAF documents. Operated by Test & Development Establishment at RCAF Rockcliffe, Ontario on behalf on National Research Council. Visited Winnipeg, Manitoba, from Rockcliffe, on 19 November 1946. Operated from Detroit and Omaha in January 1947. Also operated from Vancouver, Goose Bay, and Gander. Low serviceability, due in part to lack of available spares. Order from the UK to scrap this aircraft in Canada received in January 1949, when replacement North Star became available. Last operational Liberator in Canada, probably last operational RY3 in the world.
last update: 2025-February-05
   1946-July-02 Loan From Other Air Force Received on loan from RAF 2019-08-20
   1946-July-02 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1949-November-16 Struck off Strength struck off and scrapped 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005: Smith, Castle): 1968 577