Consolidated P2Y Ranger

Book excerpt: The book begins with a 24-page in depth review of the origins of the patrol flying boat covering most Curtiss boats (except the NC boats), the Naval Aircraft Factory PN boats and their derivatives (Douglas PD-1, Keystone PK-1, Martin PM-1/2), the Boeing PB-1, and the Hall PH-1/2/3 and XP2H-1. Thirteen 3-view drawings by Lloyd Jones help illustrate this section. The book then goes on to cover the Consolidated XPY-1 Admiral, Consolidated Model 16 Commodore, Martin P3M-1/2 and XP2M-1 before detailing the Consolidated's P2Y Ranger development and squadron usage. The P2Y was the aircraft that put Consolidated on the map of great aircraft manufacturers and led to the PBY and PB2Y flying boats that served with such distinction during WWII.