P-2 Neptune Illustrated Paperback – February 22, 2026

Neptune is the eighth and farthest known planet from the Sun in our solar system, classified as an ice giant. Neptune is also the Roman God of the sea and the Greek God Poseiden. Astrologically, Neptune represents dreams, intuition, illusion, imagination, and spirituality, but not vigilant patrolling of said sea, or deadly stalker of submarines, all of which describes the Lockheed version of Neptune.The Neptune name came from Lockheed or via its subsidiary Vega and designer Mac Short, who originally proposed the design, initially referred to by some as the “Guardian”. That name may have been more descriptive of the mission, but “God Of The Sea” was more descriptive of the capabilities of the P2V Neptune.The Neptune was the first airplane designed from the outset for the specific mission of Patrol Bomber. Designed during World War II, it was larger than a B-17, faster, and more heavily armed. It was a record-setting long range patrol bomber, attributes which would carry it beyond the patrol bomber mission to that of a deadly submarine hunter in the early years of the Cold War.During its career, the Neptune was loaded with more and more sophisticated gear and after its power was increased with the addition of a pair of underwing jet engines, speed was added. Though it was too-soon replaced in the primary patrol mission by the Lockheed P-3 Orion, the Neptune was stillused for special missions that were dreamed up during the Vietnam War.The Neptune also served in several foreign Navies, and when it was finally retired from military service, that heavy load carrying capability inspired a fire-fighting mission.All of those missions and the many configurations of the P2V, P-2 Neptune are covered in this illustrated description of the Neptune and its many versions. Read more