Lockheed Ventura
| Ventura B-34 Lexington / B-37 PV-1 Ventura / PV-2 Harpoon |
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| A Lockheed PV-1 Ventura | |
| Role | Patrol bomber |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed |
| First flight | 31 July 1941 |
| Primary users |
United States Navy United States Army Air Forces Royal Air Force |
| Developed from | Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar |
The Lockheed Ventura is a twin engine medium bomber of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises, including maritime patrol.
The Ventura was developed from the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar transport, as a replacement for the Lockheed Hudson bombers then in service with the Royal Air Force. Used in daylight attacks against occupied Europe, they proved to have weaknesses and were removed from bomber duty and some used for patrols by Coastal Command.
After United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) monopolization of land-based bombers was removed, the US Navy ordered a revised design which entered service as the Harpoon for anti-submarine work.
The Ventura was very similar to its predecessor, the Lockheed Hudson. The primary difference was not in layout; rather, the Ventura was larger and heavier than the Hudson. The RAF ordered 188 Venturas in February 1940. They were delivered from mid-1942 onwards. Venturas were initially used for daylight raids on occupied Europe. Like some other RAF bombers, they proved too vulnerable without fighter escorts, which was problematical for long-range missions. They were replaced in this role by the very fast de Havilland Mosquito. The Venturas were gradually transferred to patrol duties with Coastal Command; 30 went to the RCAF and some to the SAAF.
The RAF placed a further order for 487 Ventura Mark IIs, but many of these were diverted to USAAF service. The USAAF placed its own order for 200 Ventura Mark IIA, which were put into service as the B-34 Lexington, later redesignated RB-34.
In August 1941, large orders for Venturas were placed with Lend-Lease Act money. Among the orders were for 550 armed reconnaissance versions of the Ventura. This aircraft was originally planned to be built under the designation O-56. The main differences between the Ventura and the O-56 were in the engines: rather than the 2,000 hp (1,491 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radials of the Ventura, the O-56 used 1,700 hp (1,270 kW) Wright R-2600-13 radials.
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