RAAF	MSN	BU NO	DEL USN	DEL RAAF
NIL	5204	152760	08NOV66	22JUN95
See TAP-3B page

L-185B ORION P-3B-95-LO*

RAAF	MSN	BU NO	DEL RAAF	LATER
A9-291	5401	155291	10JAN68	NZ4206
10JAN68	Ferried from Lockheed, Burbank to the 11SQN detachment at Moffett Field by a USN crew. The first four aircraft were used for training the RAAF detachment at Moffett Field. (Source: 1)
12JUL68	Arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA in company with A9-292. "All nine P-3B are now at home base." (Source: 1) (This was previously shown as 11MAY68 but the ORB confirms 12JUL68)
30APR85	Traded in to Lockheed
30APR85	Sold to RNZAF as NZ4206
01MAY85	Departed RAAF Edinburgh for Whenuapai, NZ
03MAY85	Arrived Whenuapai, NZ
-	Current to No 5 Sqn RNZAF as type P-3K
-	Commencing in 2006, the RNZAF Orions will be upgraded, after which they will be known as P-3K2. The first modified aircraft (NZ4204) was delivered on 23APR11.
13DEC21	Was scheduled to be retired on this date but the aircraft went u/s in Brunei awaiting an engine change.
20JAN22	The aircraft positioned from Whenuapai to Woodbourne to be retired and parted out.
A9-292	5402	155292	23JAN68	N4003G N4003X 4801 14801
23JAN68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank. The first four aircraft were used for training the RAAF detachment at Moffett Field. (Source: 1)
12JUL68	Arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA in company with A9-291. "All nine P-3B are now at home base." (Source: 1) (This was previously shown as 11MAY68 but the ORB confirms 12JUL68)
01AUG85	Traded in to Lockheed as N4003G
24JAN86	Departed RAAF Edinburgh for Burbank via Tahiti, for conversion to prototype P-3P. Flight Plan filed as N4003G. Crew: J V De Thomas (Pilot) Lyle Schaefer (Pilot) Jack Schroeder (NavCom) Shelly Bloedorn (Flight Engineer) Tommy Thompson (Radar) (Source: Jack Schroeder)
26JAN86	Arrived at Burbank. (Source: Jack Schroeder)
-	Registered to Lockheed, Burbank as N4003X
06AUG88	Departed Palmdale, CA on delivery to the Portuguese Air Force as P-3P serial 4801. (Source: Marco Borst)
07AUG88	Arrived at Montijo AB after a 13 hour flight. (Source: Marco Borst)
-	Re-serialled 14801
-	Allocated to ESQ601 at Montijo
-	Stored at OGMA at Alverca AB as of JUN05
09MAR11	Photographed at Alverca AB engineless and seemingly parted out. (Source: ADF-Serials)
A9-293	5403	155293	12FEB68	N4008B N4006S 4802 14802
12FEB68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank. Ferried by a VP-31 crew.The first four aircraft were used for training the RAAF detachment at Moffett Field. (Source: 1)
11JUL68	Arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA in company with A9-300. (Source: 1) (This was previously shown at 11MAY68 but the ORB confirms July)
01AUG85	Traded in to Lockheed as N4008B
13NOV85	Departed RAAF Edinburgh
19NOV85	Arrived Beja, Portugal
OCT86	Registered to Lockheed, Burbank as N4006S
12OCT87	Delivered to Montijo AB thence to OGMA at Alverca AB for P-3P conversion
-	Delivered to Portuguese Air Force as P-3P 4802
-	Re-serialled 14802
-	Allocated to ESQ601 at Montijo
-	Stored at Montijo as of JUN05
-	Noted on the dump at Montijo as of DEC17
A9-294	5404	155294	26FEB68	N4008R N4005X 4803 14803
26FEB68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank. The first four aircraft were used for training the RAAF detachment at Moffett Field. (Source: 1)
09MAY68	The first three RAAF Orions (A9-294, 295 & 297) departed Moffett Field for Australia. (Source: 1)
13MAY68	The first three RAAF Orions (A9-294, 295 & 297) arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA. (Source: 1)
07DEC83	Traded in to Lockheed as N4008R
13NOV85	Departed RAAF Edinburgh
19NOV85	Arrived Beja, Portugal
OCT86	Registered to Lockheed, Burbank as N4005X
20OCT86	Delivered to Montijo AB for use as a trainer (see also A9-298)
-	Subsequently to OGMA at Alverca AB for P-3P conversion
-	Delivered to Portuguese Air Force as P-3P 4803
-	Re-serialled 14803
-	Current to ESQ601 at Montijo
17	Stored at Beja Air Base as of DEC17
A9-295	5405	155295	21MAR68	N4007A N4003G 4804 14804
21MAR68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank in company with A9-296. (Source: 1)
09MAY68	The first three RAAF Orions (A9-294, 295 & 297) departed Moffett Field for Australia. (Source: 1)
13MAY68	The first three RAAF Orions (A9-294, 295 & 297) arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA. (Source: 1)
30APR85	Traded in to Lockheed as N4007A
06DEC85	Test flown at Edinburgh by Lockheed test pilots Vic Ehlers and Stan Olsen (Source: Vic Ehlers)
10DEC85	Departed RAAF Edinburgh commanded by Lockheed test pilot Vic Ehlers
16DEC85	Arrived Beja, Portugal and stored
OCT86	Registered to Lockheed, Burbank as N4003G
-	Positioned directly to OGMA at Alverca AB for conversion to P-3P after storage at Beja for one year or more
-	Delivered to Portuguese Air Force as P-3P serial 4804
-	Re-serialled 14804
-	Current to ESQ601 at Montijo
17	Stored at DFTMA Ota as of DEC17
A9-296	5406	155296	21MAR68	Nil
21MAR68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank in company with A9-295. (Source: 1)
25MAR68	WGCDR R.N. Law flew an air test (2.5 hrs) from Moffett Field. (Source: 1)
11APR68	"A new P-3B Orion (A9-296) awaiting delivery to the RAAF following acceptance from the Lockheed Aircraft Corporation factory at Burbank, California, was destroyed by fire after the undercarriage failed on landing at Moffett Naval Air Station on this day. The aircraft was doing circuits at NAS Moffett Field California and on its final touch down, the port strut broke off approximately 12 inches above the main gear. The port wing hit the runway. No 1 gearbox and propeller broke away and landed some 200 yards in front of and to the starboard. No 2 propeller folded under the inner wing rupturing the inboard fuel tank which resulted in a fire. The aircraft ground looped before coming to a stop. Through the inferno, the entire crew of 12 escaped via the starboard overwing hatch." Note: this account states that the date was 12 April but most accounts state 11 April and this is believed to be correct. (Source: Office of Air Force History) The cause was subsequently traced to a faulty main gear forging. (This aircraft was replaced by msn 5286 which became A9-605). A9-296 had a total time of 22 hours 50 minutes at the time of the crash. All RAAF Orions were grounded from 11APR68 until 23APR68. RAAF training continued in VP-31 aircraft. (Source: 1)
A9-297	5407	155297	04APR68	N4003G N4008B 4805 14805
04APR86	The ORB does not record when A9-297 was delivered from Burbank to Moffett Field but the dates recorded in the "DEL RAAF" column are, with few exceptions, consistent with the date of the ferry flight from Burbank to Moffett Field so 04APR68 is probably correct. (Source: 1)
23APR68	A9-297 was the first RAAF Orion to fly after the crash of A9-296. (Source: 1)
09MAY68	The first three RAAF Orions (A9-294, 295 & 297) departed Moffett Field for Australia. (Source: 1)
13MAY68	The first three RAAF Orions (A9-294, 295 & 297) arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA. (Source: 1)
07DEC83	Traded in to Lockheed as N4003G
14OCT85	Departed RAAF Edinburgh (Source: Vic Ehlers)
21OCT85	Arrived Beja, Portugal (Source: Vic Ehlers)
OCT86	Registered to Lockheed, Burbank as N4008B
12OCT87	Delivered to Montijo AB thence to OGMA at Alverca AB for P-3P conversion
-	Delivered to Portuguese Air Force at Montijo AB as P-3P serial 4805
-	Re-serialled 14805
-	Current to ESQ601 at Montijo
-	Broken up at Beja Air Base by DEC17

L-185B ORION P-3B-100-LO*

RAAF	MSN	BU NO	DEL RAAF	LATER
A9-298	5408	155298	06MAY68	N40035 N64854 4806 14806
06MAY68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank. Ferried by a USN crew. (Source: 1)
11JUN68	A9-298 and A9-299 departed Moffett Field for Australia. (Source: 1)
14JUN68	A9-298 and A9-299 arrived at Edinburgh. (Source: 2)
21FEB85	Traded in to Lockheed as N40035
14OCT85	Departed RAAF Edinburgh (Source: Vic Ehlers)
21OCT85	Arrived Beja, Portugal (Source: Vic Ehlers)
OCT86	Registered to Lockheed, Burbank as N64854
22OCT86	Delivered to Montijo AB for use as a trainer (see also A9-294)
-	Subsequently to OGMA at Alverca AB for P-3P conversion
-	Delivered to Portuguese Air Force at Montijo AB as P-3P serial 4806
-	Re-serialled 14806
-	In storage
25MAY05	Flown to the Portuguese Air Force Museum, Sintra AB for preservation. Flight commanded by Major Ropio (XO of 601 Sqn)
A9-299	5409	155299	17MAY68	N91LC N145CS
17MAY68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank. Ferried by a VP-31 crew. (Source: 1)
11JUN68	A9-299 and A9-298 departed Moffett Field for Australia. (Source: 1)
14JUN68	A9-299 and A9-298 arrived at Edinburgh. (Source: 2)
12DEC82	Traded in to Lockheed as N91LC
22JUL83	Departed RAAF Edinburgh for Burbank, CA
23JUL83	Photographed at Brisbane International as N91LC
27JUL83	Arrived at Burbank (Pilot Vic Ehlers of Lockheed)
-	Modified as prototype AEW&C
-	To U.S. Customs Service as N145CS
-	Named Blue Eagle
18	Current to United States Customs and Border Protection.
APR24	Retired to the Pima Air and Space Museum at Tucson, Arizona.
A9-300	5410	155300	29MAY68	Nil
29MAY68	Arrived Moffet Field ex Lockheed, Burbank. Ferried by SQN LDR Holland, RAAF. (Source: 1)
11JUL68	Arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA in company with A9-293. (Source: 1) (This was previously shown at 12JUL68 but the ORB confirms 11 July)
27JAN84	Damaged by fire at Edinburgh, SA
85	Remaining usable parts sold to Lockheed as spares for Portuguese aircraft.
SEP87	Fuselage to DSTO Salisbury, SA for use as avionics Research and Development mockup known as ORACL (Orion Avionic Concept Laboratory). (Source: http://p-3publications.com/PDF/AirborneLog-Spring94.pdf)
-	The fin is stored at RAAF Edinburgh having been used for Battle Damage Repair Training.
NOV90	The wings from A9-300 were subsequently used in the rebuild of US Navy P-3C 157330 (MSN 5545) which was damaged in an accident at NAS Cecil, Florida on 02JUN88. The rebuild was completed in NOV90. (Source: http://p-3publications.com/PDF/AirborneLog-Spring94.pdf) Picture The following account of the rebuild of 157330 was contributed to the quoted source on 14SEP05 by Jim Hughes: "VP-50's 157330 is the bird we dubbed Phoenix at the depot. I was the depot P-3 Planner and Estimator at NADEP NAS Jacksonville, Florida at the time who convinced everyone that the airplane could be fixed instead of striking it. I knew about an RAAF P-3 that had a flight station fire that had been parked in Edinburgh, Australia. I took a team there and after looking at the wings we worked out a horse trade to get the wings off and back to the depot in Jacksonville via C-5. In the meantime I had a team of artisans take apart the aircraft at NAS Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Florida. Wings and empennage were removed. The fuselage was placed on a truck and a special escort down 103rd street to NAS Jacksonville was made. The original cost and schedule estimates were beaten to put the aircraft back into service." (Source: http://www.vpnavy.com/vp50_aircraft.html) (The earlier reference to the wings being used on MSN 5501 is incorrect)
04JUN08	The fuselage was broken up for scrap at Edinburgh.

L-185B ORION P-3B-105-LO

RAAF	MSN	BU NO	DEL USN	DEL RAAF	LATER
A9-605	5286	154605	31DEC68	07SEP69	N40035 N96LW N146CS
07SEP69	Arrived at RAAF Edinburgh, SA on delivery from the USA. (Source: 1) This aircraft was a replacement for A9-296 which was destroyed during acceptance trials. This aircraft was built for the USN and therefore is correctly a Block 105 aircraft.
12DEC82	Traded in to Lockheed as N40035
06DEC85	Test flown at Edinburgh by Lockheed test pilots Vic Ehlers and Stan Olsen (Source: Vic Ehlers)
10DEC85	Departed RAAF Edinburgh for Burbank under the command of Lockheed test pilot Stan Olsen (Source: Vic Ehlers)
-	Converted to AEW&C
-	Re-registered N96LW
-	To U.S. Customs Service as N146CS
-	Named Blue Eagle II
18	Current to United States Customs and Border Protection.

To view all images with captions, click on the image above.

To view just the images as a slideshow, click on the image below.

* A Note on P-3B Block Numbers

Block Numbers were generally issued only to aircraft built specifically for the U.S. Navy. However, RAAF document AAP 7215.001-2-1 dated 1983 states that A9-291 to A9-297 inclusive were Block 95 aircraft and A9-298 to A9-300 inclusive were Block 100 aircraft. This document also confirms all of the MSNs and Bu Nos listed in the above tables. It is understood that these Block numbers attach to the RAAF Orions as they were on the production line at the same time as Block 95 & 100 aircraft were being assembled for the USN. Lockheed and the USN discontinued the use of Block Numbers on P-3Cs after 200 because they were not sufficiently specific to represent configuration accurately enough for maintenance, so the USN went to more precise configuration listings of specific aircraft and mods. Nevertheless, Block Numbers higher than 200 were used by several customers, including the RAAF P-3Cs, and indeed there is photographic proof of their use on USN aircraft. It is believed that these Block Numbers were contrived locally for continuity purposes.

NOTES P-3B

Australian ATC records show four of the Portuguese aircraft (A9-293, 294, 297 & 298) departed Edinburgh for Cocos Island, Seychelles, Cairo and Beja. However, there is an anomaly in that the ATC records also show A9-295 going to Burbank and A9-605 going to Portugal but it was actually vice versa. A9-295 was delivered to Portugal and A9-605 went to Burbank for conversion to AEW&C configuration. Australian ATC records show N4007Z for A9-295 and not N4007A but this is almost certainly a typographical error as N4007Z was allocated to a PA-18. A9-292 went to Burbank for conversion by Lockheed to the prototype P-3P. All other P-3Bs sold to Portugal were delivered directly to Portugal for conversion to P-3P by OGMA at Alverca AB. A9-294 and A9-298 were used as trainers prior to conversion. Earlier reports that A9-295 was sighted at Burbank in October 1987 as N4007A are now believed to relate to another aircraft as N4007A was one of several Lockheed "trade plate" registrations used on multiple aircraft. Furthermore, the Lockheed pilot, Vic Ehlers, who ferried A9-295 out of Edinburgh, confirms that he flew the aeroplane to Beja, Portugal.

RAAF P-3B DISPOSALS

C/N	BuNo	RAAF	FAA#1	DEP (E)	TO	ARR	ARR (M)	FAA#2	PoAF#1	PoAF#2	REMARKS
5401	155291	A9-291	-	01MAY85	NZWP	03MAY85	-	-	-	-	To NZ4206
5402	155292	A9-292	N4003G(#2)	24JAN86	KBUR	26JAN86	07AUG88	N4003X	4801	14801	Note 1
5403	155293	A9-293	N4008B	13NOV85	LPBJ	19NOV85	12OCT87	N4006S	4802	14802	-
5404	155294	A9-294	N4008R	13NOV85	LPBJ	19NOV85	20OCT86	N4005X	4803	14803	Note 2
5405	155295	A9-295	N4007A	10DEC85	LPBJ	16DEC85	-	N4003G(#3)	4804	14804	Note 3
5407	155297	A9-297	N4003G(#1)	14OCT85	LPBJ	21OCT85	12OCT87	N4008B	4805	14805	-
5408	155298	A9-298	N40035(#1)	14OCT85	LPBJ	21OCT85	22OCT86	N64854	4806	14806	Note 2
5409	155299	A9-299	N91LC	22JUL83	KBUR	27JUL83	-	-	-	-	AEW&C
5286	154605	A9-605	N40035(#2)	10DEC85	KBUR	?	-	N96LW	-	-	AEW&C

The above table was compiled with the assistance of
Marco Borst of the Orion Research Group,
former Lockheed pilot Vic Ehlers
and Lockheed NavCom Jack Schroeder.

SOURCES
1	National Archives of Australia, RAAF Unit History sheets (Form A50) [Operations Record Book - Forms A50 and A51] Number 11 Squadron Jul 67 - Jan 88, Series number A9186
2	Aircraft Magazine, July 1968, page 40.

NOTES
Dates shown in red are derived from the log book of Vic Ehlers who ferried A9-295, A9-297 and A9-299 out of Australia.
FAA#1	Registration allocated for ferry flight. Jack Schroeder, NavCom on the ferry flight of A9-292, confirms that the flight plan for this flight was filed under the FAA registration shown. Note that these Lockheed "trade plate" registrations were used on multiple aircraft.
FAA#2	Registration allocated for crew training and/or test flying in Portugal.
DEP (E)	Departure from RAAF Edinburgh, South Australia
KBUR	Burbank, California, USA
LPBJ	Beja, Portugal
NZWP	Whenuapai, New Zealand
ARR (M)	Arrival at Montijo Air Base, Portugal
PoAF#1	Initial Portuguese Air Force serial
PoAF#2	Revised Portuguese Air Force serial
Note 1	P-3P prototype. Delivered to PoAF ex Lockheed 07AUG88. Other P-3P conversions were performed by OGMA at Alverca AB from 1987 to 1989. Aircraft were initially stored at Beja and later ferried to OGMA at Alverca AB via Montijo AB as required for P-3P conversion. A9-295 was delivered directly from Beja to OGMA at Alverca AB.
Note 2	A9-294 & A9-298 were delivered to Montijo AB in OCT86 for training aircrew prior to P-3P conversion.
Note 3	Stored at Beja for a year or more then delivered directly to OGMA at Alverca AB for P-3P conversion.

Issue	Date	Remarks
19	19APR24	The former A9-299 has been retired to the Pima Air and Space Museum at Tucson, Arizona.
18	29DEC22	Added a slideshow
17	20JAN22	NZ4206 (formerly A9-291) positioned to Woodbourne on this date to be retired and parted out.
16	15FEB19	Added an image of the wings from A9-300 being fitted to a US Navy P-3C. Thanks to Joe Hattley.
15	11DEC18	Links to Orion images have been removed from this page. For images please visit the Orion Gallery.
14	16AUG18	Added dates of arrival at Edinburgh for A9-298 and A9-299. Thanks to Mel Davis and Nigel Daw (Source: 2). These dates were not recorded in the ORB (Source: 1)
13	16MAR18	P-3B delivery dates to the RAAF have been updated from the 11SQN ORB (Source: 1) Added three images of the delivery of the first three Orions taken by the late Paul Daw at age sixteen. Thanks to his brother Nigel. A9-294 A9-295 A9-297
12	05MAR18	Updated the status of the Portuguese Air Force aircraft thanks to the P-3 Orion Research Group.
11	26FEB18	Bu No 152760 has been moved to the TAP-3B page as it was acquired as a spares source to support the TAP-3B trainer/transports.
10	13AUG16	Updated and corrected the reference to the wings from A9-300 being used in the rebuild of a USN Orion. Thanks to Ray Seppala.
9	09SEP15	Added an image of 14804. Added an image of 14806 thanks to Richard Vandervord.
8	07SEP15	Tables completely reformatted. Nil change to data.
7	18JUN08	Added two recent (OCT07) images of 152760 thanks to Richard Siudak.
6	06JUN08	Added a report from the ADF Serials website that BuNo 152760 and A9-300 have been broken up for scrap.
5	12MAR06	Added a reference to the later use of the wings from the fire damaged A9-300. Thanks to Dana Epping.
4	07JAN06	Attempted to further clarify the complicated matter of Block Numbers.
3	26NOV05	Commencing in 2006, the RNZAF Orions will be upgraded, after which they will be known as P-3K2. See A9-291.
2	10NOV05	Previously, A9-291 to A9-300 inclusive were shown as Block 95 aircraft. RAAF document AAP 7215.001-2-1 dated 1983 states that the last three aircraft, A9-298 to A9-300 inclusive, were Block 100 aircraft. Thanks to Marco Borst of the Orion Research Group for supplying this document.
1	11OCT05	Previously, all Orions were presented on the one page. Effective from this date, there are separate pages for each type, P-3B, TAP-3B and P-3C. If required, the previous summary of updates can be viewed here.

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