Lockheed Ventura: Difference between revisions

|national origin = [[United States]]

|manufacturer = [[Lockheed Corporation|Lockheed]]

At the start of the war, Lockheed proposed military conversions of the Lodestar for the RAF as replacement for the Hudson reconnaissance aircraft and the [[Bristol Blenheim]] bomber. The first British order was placed in February 1940 for 25 Model 32 as bombers. This was followed by an order for 300 Model 37 with Double Wasp engines, then for a further 375 later in 1940. Lockheed needed more production capacity and nearby [[Vega Aircraft Corporation]] was contracted for building the Ventura.

The '''PV-1 Ventura''', built by the Vega Aircraft Company division of Lockheed (hence the "V" Navy manufacturer's letter that later replaced the "O" for Lockheed), was a version of the Ventura built for the U.S. Navy (see [[#United States Navy|Venturas in U.S. Navy service]] below). The main differences between the PV-1 and the B-34 were the inclusion of special equipment in the PV-1, adapting it to its patrol bombing role. The maximum fuel capacity of the PV-1 was increased from 1,345 gal (5,081 lL) to 1,607 gal (6,082 lL), to increase its range; the forward defensive armament was also reduced for this reason. The most important addition was of an ASD-1 search radar.

[[File:RAF Ventura over IJmuiden NAN15Sep43.jpg|thumb|A [[No. 21 Squadron RAF]] Ventura attacking [[IJmuidenIjmuiden]], February 1943.]]

The first Ventura Mark Is were accepted by the [[Royal Air Force]] (RAF) in September 1941, with aircraft being delivered to Britain from April 1942.<ref name="Frnclock p198">Francillon 1982, p. 198.</ref><ref name="Bowyer2 p254">Bowyer 1974, p. 254.</ref> By the end of August, enough Venturas had arrived to equip [[No. 21 Squadron RAF]], [[No. 487 Squadron RNZAF]] and [[No. 464 Squadron RAAF]].<ref name="Bowyer2 p255-6">Bowyer 1974, pp. 254–256.</ref> The Ventura flew its first operational mission for the RAF on 3 November 1942, when three Venturas of 21 Squadron attacked railway targets near [[Hengelo]] in the [[Netherlands]].<ref name="Bowyer p261">Bowyer 1974, p. 261.</ref><ref name="Carey p12">Carey 2002, p. 12.</ref> On 6 December 1942, 47 Venturas from 21, 464 (RAAF) and 487 (RNZAF) squadrons participated in [[Operation Oyster (1942)|Operation Oyster]], the large daylight 2 Group raid against the [[Philips]] radio and [[vacuum tube]] factories at [[Eindhoven]]. Also committed to the raid were 36 [[Douglas A-20 Havoc|Bostons]] and 10 [[de Havilland Mosquito|de Havilland Mosquitos]].<ref name="Bowyer2 p263,6,3">Bowyer 1974, pp. 263, 266, 273.</ref>

Carrying incendiaries, they were placed in the third wave of aircraft, and suffered the highest rate of loss. Nine of the 47 Venturas were shot down and many others were damaged by flak or bird strikes. The force also lost four Bostons and one Mosquito.<ref name="Bowyer2 280,2">Bowyer 1974, pp. 280, 282.</ref> Six months later, on 3 May 1943, Venturas of 487 Squadron RNZAF were sent on [[Operation Ramrod 16]], an attack on a power station in [[Amsterdam]]. The squadron was told that the target was of such importance to Dutch morale, that the attack was to be continued regardless of opposition. Significant problems developed with rendezvousing with the escorting fighters, with the result that all 10 Venturas that crossed the coast were lost to German fighters. Squadron Leader [[Leonard Trent]] (later the last of [[Stalag Luft III#The "Greatgreat Escape"escape|the Great Escapers]]) won the [[Victoria Cross]] for his leadership in this raid.

The Ventura was never very popular among RAF crews. Although it was {{convert|50|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} faster and carried more than twice the bomb load of its predecessor, the [[Lockheed Hudson|Hudson]], it proved unsatisfactory as a bomber. By the summer of 1943, the Ventura had been replaced by the de Havilland Mosquito. The last Ventura raid was flown by 21 Squadron on 9 September 1943. Some Venturas were modified to be used by Coastal Command as the '''Ventura G.R.I.''' and 387 PV-1s were used by the RAF as the '''Ventura G.R.V''' in the Mediterranean and by Coastal Command. Some RAF aircraft were modified into '''Ventura C.V''' transport aircraft. A small number of Venturas were also used in other air forces, including the RCAF, RNZAF and SAAF.

In the United Kingdom, [[No. 464 Squadron RAAF]] formed (mixuremixture of Commonwealth personnel) at [[RAF Feltwell]] in September 1942 to operate the Ventura as part of [[No. 2 Group RAF|2 Group]], Bomber Command; it converted to the de Havilland Mosquito in September 1943. In the Mediterranean, [[No. 459 Squadron RAAF]] was equipped with the Ventura V between December 1943 to July 1944, flying mainly anti-submarine and anti-shipping patrols.

By this time [[No. 2 Squadron RNZAF]] at [[Ohakea]] and [[No. 9 Squadron RNZAF]] were also using the type. The following year [[No. 4 Squadron RNZAF]] and [[No. 8 Squadron RNZAF]] also received Venturas. Some squadrons were retained on ''garrison'' duty while others followed the allied advance to [[Emirau]] and [[Green Island, Papua New Guinea|Green Island]] and to [[New Britain]]. RNZAF Venturas were tasked with routine patrols, anti-shipping strikes, minelaying, bombing and strafing missions, [[air-sea rescue]] patrols, and photographic reconnaissance missions. In an apparently bizarre case of taking Lockheed's marketing slogan of '''The Fighter-Bomber''' too literally, even briefly, Venturas conducted fighter sweeps.

RNZAF machines often clashed with Japanese fighters, notably during an air-sea rescue patrol on Christmas Eve 1943. NZ4509 was attacked by nine Japanese single-enginedengine fighters over St. George's Channel. It shot down three, later confirmed, and claimed two others as probablesprobable, although it suffered heavy damage in the action. The pilot, Flying Officer D. Ayson and navigator, Warrant Officer W. Williams, were awarded the DFC. The dorsal turret gunner Flight Sergeant G. Hannah was awarded the DFM.

By late 1944 the Ventura began to be phased out of front linefrontline action as the RNZAF backed away from the Patrol Bomber concept, orders for PV-2 Harpoons were canceled after a handful of aircraft had been delivered. At VJ Day only 30 PV-1 aircraft remained on the front-line with No. 3 Squadron at [[Landing at Jacquinot Bay|Jacquinot Bay]].

Some 264 Ventura Mark IIs ordered by the RAF were transferred to the U.S. Army Air ForcesForce.<ref>Andrade 1979, p. 247</ref> Though some were used as anti-submarine patrol bombers under the designation '''B-34 Lexington''', most were used for training with various stateside units. Twenty-seven of these were used by the U.S. Navy for anti-submarine patrols as well; these were designated PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon.

[[File:Lockheed PV-2s VP-136 Whidbey Island 1945-461947.jpg|thumb|PV-2s of [[VP-3|VPB-136]] at [[Naval Air Station Whidbey Island]], c.1945–46]]

[[File:JMSDF PV-2.jpg|thumb|[[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]] PV-2]]

** Air Headquarters Iraq Communication Flight<ref>Lake, Alan 1999 p. 18.</ref>

* PV-1 33369 - stored by the [[RAAF Museum|Royal Australian Air Force Museum]] awaiting restoration to static display standard; previously operated by the RAAF Historic Flight, 1988–96, as VH-SFF (former N159U), painted as A59-67.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3736/f/minisite/static/1469/RAAFmuseum/exhibitions/b_scenes/air_store/ventura.htm |title=ArchivedRAAF copyMuseum: Aircraft in Storage: Lockheed Ventura |access-date=2018-07-31 |archive-date=2018-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414212355/https://www.airforce.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3736/f/minisite/static/1469/RAAFmuseum/exhibitions/b_scenes/air_store/ventura.htm |url-status=dead }}</ref>

*PV-2 37535 – [[Erickson Aircraft Collection]] in [[Madras, Oregon]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=83L "FAA Registry: N83L."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref><ref>[http://www.ericksoncollection.com/aircraft/#/lockheed-pv-2-harpoon/ "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 37535."] ''Erickson Aircraft Collection.'' Retrieved: 21 August 2014.</ref>

*B-34 41-38032 – [[Orlando Sanford International Airport]] (former [[Naval Air Station Sanford]]), [[Sanford, Florida]]. Aircraft is on loan from the [[National Museum of Naval Aviation Museum]]. Restored by the [[Naval Air Station Sanford]] Memorial Committee.<ref>[http://www.nassanfordmemorial.com/ventura_restoration.htm "B-34 Ventura/41-38032."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120213191751/http://www.nassanfordmemorial.com/ventura_restoration.htm |date=2012-02-13 }} ''NAS Sanford Memorial.'' Retrieved: 20 April 2011.</ref> <ref> [https://events.flysfb.com/] Retrieved: 30 June 2022 </ref> <ref>[https://floridawarbirds.com/2019/05/05/sanford-orlando-airport-pv-1-ventura-moved-to-new-location/] ''Sanford-Orlando Airport, PV-1 Ventura moved to new location'' Retrieved: 30 June 2022. </ref>

*PV-2 37230 – [[National Museum of Naval Aviation]] at [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]] in [[Pensacola, Florida]].<ref>[http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/attractions/aircraft-exhibits/item/?item=pv-2_harpoon "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 37230."] ''National Museum of Naval Aviation.'' Retrieved: 10 April 2012.</ref>

*PV-2 37257 – [[Pima Air Museum]], adjacent to [[Davis-Monthan Air Force Base]] in [[Tucson, Arizona]].<ref>[https://pimaair.org/museum-aircraft/lockheed-vega-pv-2/ "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 37257."] ''Pima Air Museum.'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>

*PV-2 84060 – in storage at the [[Cavanaugh Flight Museum]] in [[Addison, Texas]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=86493 "FAA Registry: N86493."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://cavflight.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=119 "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 84060."] ''Cavanaugh Flight Museum.'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref> To be moved to [[North Texas Regional Airport]] in [[Denison, Texas]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Sullivan |first=Cole |date=1 January 2024 |title=Historic Addison flight museum announces closure |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/addison-texas-cavanaugh-flight-museum-closing/287-85fe72cf-3131-4919-88ed-e92d8cfa30c0 |work=WFAA |location=Dallas, Texas |access-date=4 January 2024}}</ref>

*RB-34 AJ311 – in storage at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] at [[Wright-Patterson Air Force Base]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Lockheed RB-34 Lexington, s/n AJ311 FABr, c/n 237-4449 |url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=14796 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=16 January 2022}}</ref>

[[File:Lockheed PV-12 BuAerHarpoon 3 side view drawing.jpg|thumbframeless|right|PV-12 VenturaHarpoon 3-side-drawing]]

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=xiADAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA116&dq=popular+science+%22A+two-room+wing%22&hlpg=en&ei=8F0FTuj7H8H40gGp_vjCCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCoQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=truePA116 "The Versatile Ventura"] June 1945 ''Popular Science''—note: rare photos of loading of various weapon loads

* [https://books.google.com/books?id=p98DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10&dq=true#v=onepage&qpg=true&f=truePA10 "2000 Mile Navy Bomber"] ''Popular Mechanics'', November 1945, p.&nbsp;10.

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