View source for Lockheed Ventura

{{short description|Family of bomber aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = {{plainlist|
*Ventura
*B-34 Lexington / B-37
*PV-1 Ventura / PV-2 Harpoon}}
  |image = File:Lockheed PV-1 Ventura patrol bomber in flight, circa 1943 (fsa.8e01506).jpg
  |caption = A Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
  |type = [[Patrol bomber]]
  |national_origin = United States
  |manufacturer = [[Lockheed Corporation]]
  |first_flight = 31 July 1941
  |introduction =
  |retired =
  |primary_user = [[United States Navy]]
  |more_users = {{plainlist|
*[[United States Army Air Forces]]
*[[Royal Air Force]]}}
  |produced =
  |number_built =3,028<ref>{{cite web |title=Lockheed Ventura |url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_lockheed_Ventura.html |website=History of War |access-date=18 February 2023}}</ref>
  |developed_from = [[Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar]]
  |variants =
  |developed_into =
}}

The '''Lockheed Ventura''' is a twin-engine [[medium bomber]] and [[patrol bomber]] of World War II.

The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Designated '''PV-1''' by the [[United States Navy]] (US Navy), it entered combat in 1943 in the Pacific. The bomber was also used by the [[United States Army Air Forces]] (USAAF), which designated it the '''Lockheed B-34''' (''Lexington'') and '''B-37''' as a trainer. [[Commonwealth of Nations|British Commonwealth]] forces also used it in several guises, including antishipping and antisubmarine search and attack.

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 USAAF monopolization of land-based bombers was removed, the US Navy ordered a revised design which entered service as the '''PV-2 Harpoon''' for anti-submarine work.

==Development==

===Lockheed Ventura/B-34 Lexington===
[[File:Lockheed Ventura Mk I of No. 21 Squadron RAF at Methwold, Norfolk, 27 February 1943. CH8885.jpg|thumb|An RAF Ventura Mk 1]]

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 Ventura was very similar to its predecessor, the [[Lockheed Hudson]]. The primary difference was not in layout; rather, the Ventura was larger, heavier, and used more powerful engines than the Hudson. The RAF ordered 188 Venturas in February 1940, which were delivered from mid-1942. Venturas were initially used for daylight raids on occupied Europe but, like some other RAF bombers, they proved too vulnerable without fighter escort, which was difficult to provide for long-range missions. Venturas were replaced by the faster [[de Havilland Mosquito]]. The Venturas were transferred to patrol duties with [[Coastal Command]] as the Mosquito replaced them in bomber squadrons; 30 went to the [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF) and some to the [[South African Air Force]] (SAAF). The RAF placed an order for 487 '''Ventura Mark II'''s but many of these were diverted to the USAAF, which placed its own order for 200 '''Ventura Mark IIA''' as the '''B-34 Lexington''', later renamed '''RB-34'''.

===Lockheed B-37===
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&nbsp;hp (1,491&nbsp;kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-2800]] radials of the Ventura, the O-56 used 1,700&nbsp;hp (1,270&nbsp;kW) [[Wright R-2600]]-13 radials.

Before completion of the first O-56, the U.S. Army Air Forces dropped the "O-" category used to designate "observation" (reconnaissance) aircraft. The O-56 was redesignated the '''RB-34B''' (the ''R'' denoted 'restricted' meaning it was not to be used for combat). Before the first of these flew, the design was redesignated again as the '''B-37''' with a higher powered version of the R-2600, later it also was designated the '''RB-37'''.

While 550 were ordered by the Army Air Forces, acquisition by the USAAF stopped after only 18 Venturas were accepted, when the Army Air Forces agreed to turn over exclusive use of the Ventura to the [[United States Navy]].

===PV-1 Ventura===
[[File:Lockheed Ventura.jpg|thumb|A PV-1 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&nbsp;gal (5,081&nbsp;L) to 1,607&nbsp;gal (6,082&nbsp;L), 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.

Early production PV-1s still carried a bombardier's station behind the nose radome, with four side windows and a flat bomb-aiming panel underneath the nose. Late production PV-1s dispensed with this bombardier position and replaced it with a pack with three 0.50&nbsp;inch (12.7&nbsp;mm) machine guns underneath the nose. These aircraft could also carry eight 5-inch (127&nbsp;mm) [[HVAR]] rockets on launchers underneath the wings.

The PV-1 began to be delivered in December 1942, and entered service in February 1943. The first squadron in combat was VP-135, deployed in the [[Aleutian Islands]] in April 1943. They were operated by three other squadrons in this theatre. From the Aleutians, they flew strikes against bases in [[Paramushiro]] and [[Shimushu]], [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]] islands in the [[Kurile Islands|Kurile chain]]. Often, PV-1s would lead B-24 bomber formations, since they were equipped with radar. In late 1943, some PV-1s were deployed to the [[Solomon Islands]] as night fighters with [[VMFA-531|VMF(N)-531]], a [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] fighter squadron.

===PV-2 Harpoon===
[[File:PV-2 NAN9-2-45.jpg|thumb|A PV-2 Harpoon in flight in 1945]]
[[File:Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon, Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida.jpg|thumb|PV-2 Harpoon at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 2008]]
[[File:Lockheed PV-2 NMNA.jpg|thumb|PV-2 Harpoon at the National Naval Aviation Museum at Naval Air Station Pensacola in 2009]]
[[File:PV-2 HARPOON - MAYDAY GOLF NORTH MYRTLE BEACH SC 14AUG12.jpg|thumb|PV-2 Harpoon repainted and marked "Air Tropic Island Charters" on display at a miniature golf course in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in 2012]]

The '''PV-2 Harpoon''' was a major redesign of the Ventura with the wing area increased from 551&nbsp;ft<sup>2</sup> (51.2&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) to 686&nbsp;ft<sup>2</sup> (63.7&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) giving an increased load-carrying capability, and which first flew on 3 December 1943. The motivation for redesign was weaknesses in the PV-1, which had shown itself to have problems in taking off when carrying a full load of fuel. On the PV-2, the armament became standardized at five forward-firing machine guns. Many early PV-1s had a bombardier's position, which was deleted in the PV-2. Some other significant developments included the increase of the bombload by 30% to 4,000&nbsp;lb (1,800&nbsp;kg), and the ability to carry eight 5-inch (127&nbsp;mm) HVAR rockets under the wings.

While the PV-2 was expected to have increased range and better takeoff, the anticipated speed statistics were projected lower than those of the PV-1, due to the use of the same engines but an increase in weight. The Navy ordered 500 examples, designating them with the popular name ''Harpoon''.

Early tests indicated a tendency for the wings to wrinkle dangerously. As this problem could not be solved by a 6&nbsp;ft (1.8&nbsp;m) reduction in wingspan (making the wing uniformly flexible), a complete redesign of the wing was necessitated. This hurdle delayed entry of the PV-2 into service. The PV-2s already delivered were used for training purposes under the designation PV-2C. By the end of 1944, only 69 PV-2s had been delivered. They finally resumed when the redesign was complete. The first aircraft shipped were the PV-2D, which had eight forward-firing machine guns and was used in ground attacks. When [[World War II]] ended, all of the order was cancelled.

With the wing problems fixed, the PV-2 proved reliable, and eventually popular. It was first used in the Aleutians by VP-139, one of the squadrons that originally used the PV-1. It was used by a number of countries after the war's end, but the United States ceased ordering new PV-2s, and they were all soon retired from service.
[[File:PV-2 Harpoon.jpg|thumb|PV-2 Harpoon]]

===Civil conversions===
[[File:Lockheed PV-1 H350 N1514S FLL 25.02.78 edited-3.jpg|thumb|left|Howard 350 executive conversion of the PV-1]]
Ex-military PV-1 Venturas from Canada and South Africa were converted by Howard Aero in [[San Antonio, Texas]], in the 1950s and 1960s as high-speed executive transports. The earliest conversions, called '''Super Venturas''', incorporated a 48&nbsp;in (122&nbsp;cm) fuselage stretch, extra fuel tankage, large picture windows, luxury interiors, and weapons bays transformed into baggage compartments. The landing gear was swapped for the heavier-duty units from the PV-2. Later conversions, of which eighteen were completed in the 1960s,<ref>Marson, 2001, p. 27</ref> were called '''Howard 350'''s.<ref name="Janes 65 p244">Taylor 1965, p.244.</ref>

At least nineteen PV-1s were further modified, including cabin pressurization under the designation '''[[Howard 500]]'''.<ref>Marson, 2001, p. 26</ref> A final PV-1 modification by Howard was the '''Eldorado 700''', with longer wings, a pointed nose, and streamlined engine cowlings.

A notable [[Aviation accidents and incidents|crash]] of a civilian version occurred on December 17, 1954, killing four, including [[Fred Miller (American football, born 1906)|Fred Miller]], president of the [[Miller Brewing Company]] and grandson of founder [[Frederick Miller]]. The company plane was bound for [[Winnipeg]], [[Manitoba]], but had trouble with both engines and crashed shortly after takeoff from [[General Mitchell International Airport|Mitchell Field]] in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]].<ref name=msplcr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6XBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kg8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=6469%2C2719263|newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |title=Fred Miller, son die in fiery plane crash |date=December 18, 1954 |page=1 }}</ref><ref name=fcmskiac>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WPMZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6502%2C3982953  |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Fred C. Miller, son killed in air crash  |date=December 18, 1954 |page=1}}</ref> Also killed were his oldest son, 20-year-old Fred, Jr., and the two company pilots, Joseph and Paul Laird.<ref name=pbsbs>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WvMZAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PiMEAAAAIBAJ&pg=7269%2C5183310 |newspaper=Milwaukee Journal |title=Pilots buried side by side |date=December 20, 1954 |page=2}}</ref><ref name=cabfnd>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UHBQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ww8EAAAAIBAJ&pg=2644%2C818080 |newspaper=Milwaukee Sentinel |title=CAB findings in Miller crash |date=March 18, 1955 |page=1, part 2 }}</ref>

Oakland Airmotive (later Bay Aviation Services, based in Oakland, California) also offered a PV-2 executive aircraft conversion dubbed '''Centaurus''' starting in 1958.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 1958 |title=Briefings . . . |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wzY7I05tQXcC&pg=PA90 |magazine=Flying |location=New York, New York |publisher=Ziff-Davis |page=90 |access-date=January 10, 2020 }}</ref> The cost of the conversion was $155,000 in addition to the airframe.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=October 1960 |title=Personal & Business Fixed-Wing Aircraft |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nnto98d-QNYC&pg=PA22|magazine=Flying |location=New York, New York |publisher=Ziff-Davis |pages=22 |access-date=October 8, 2014 }}</ref>

==Operational history==
===Portuguese Air Force===
The Portuguese Air Force received 42 Lockheed PV-2C Harpoons from 1953, which replaced the [[Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver]] as an anti-submarine aircraft. The Harpoons equipped squadrons 61 and 62 at the [[Montijo Air Base]]. In 1960, the Harpoons were replaced as maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft by [[Lockheed P2V-5 Neptune]]s. The remaining Harpoons were sent to [[Portuguese Angola|Angola]] and [[Portuguese Mozambique |Mozambique]], where they formed Squadron 91 operating from Luanda Air Base and Squadron 101 from Beira Air Base. The Harpoons were used on operations in the [[Angolan War of Independence|Angolan]] and [[Mozambican War of Independence|Mozambican]] theatres of the [[Portuguese Colonial War|Portuguese Overseas War]] (1961–1974). They served mainly as light bombers and ground attack aircraft, with occasional reconnaissance, transport and maritime patrol sorties. The last Portuguese Harpoons were retired in 1975.<ref>CARDOSO, Adelino, ''Aeronaves Militares Portuguesas no Século XX'', Lisbon: Essencial, 2000</ref> The [[Museu do Ar]] (Portuguese Air Museum) has what is believed to be the only remaining Lockheed PV-2C Harpoon in Europe.

===Royal Air Force===
[[File:RAF Ventura over IJmuiden NAN15Sep43.jpg|thumb|A [[No. 21 Squadron RAF]] Ventura attacking [[Ijmuiden]], 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 great 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.

===Royal Australian Air Force===
In the United Kingdom, [[No. 464 Squadron RAAF]] formed (mixture 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.

In Australia, 55 PV-1s were supplied to the RAAF for use in the [[South West Pacific Area]]. [[No. 13 Squadron RAAF]] was the only operational squadron in Australia equipped with the Ventura. It operated primarily in north-eastern [[Queensland]] and then the [[Northern Territory]], and later serving in the [[Borneo campaign (1945)|Borneo campaign of 1945]]. After the war, the squadron used its aircraft to help transport liberated [[Prisoner of war#Empire of Japan|prisoners of war]].

===Royal Canadian Air Force===
A total of 157 Ventura G.R. Mk. Vs were used operationally by the RCAF from 16 June 1942 to 18 April 1947 in the home defence coastal patrol role in both Eastern and Western Air Command. They were flown by 8, 113, 115, 145, and 149 Squadrons. A further 21 Ventura Mk. Is and 108 Ventura Mk. IIs were used in a training role at 1 Central Flying School, Trenton, Ontario, and at [[RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge|RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick]] (RAF No. 34 Operational Training Unit) as part of the [[BCATP]]. A total of 21 Mk. Is, 108 Mk. IIs, and 157 G.R. Mk. Vs were in service during this period for a total of 286 aircraft.

===South African Air Force===
The SAAF also received some 135 PV-1s, which were used to protect shipping around the [[Cape of Good Hope]] and to bomb [[Italy|Italian]] shipping in the Mediterranean. In December 1942 four SAAF Venturas dropped supplies to survivors of the {{MV|Dunedin Star||2}} shipwreck on [[South-West Africa]]'s [[Skeleton Coast]]. Venturas served in the South African Air Force until 1960.

===Soviet Air Force===
A few US Navy PV-1s force-landed in the Soviet Union after attacking Japanese targets on the Kurile islands and were impounded. Some of them were repaired and pressed into service by the Soviet Air Force where the type became known as the B-34. By December 1944, eight planes were located on airfields on Kamchatka: four were fully airworthy, three were undergoing repairs and one was a write-off.

By 1945 seven PV-1s (five of them being airworthy) were used by the Soviets, one plane was the personal liaison aircraft of Ltc M.A. Yeryomin. The planes were used during the Soviet-Japanese campaign in August 1945. After the end of the war only one aircraft remained in service.{{citation needed|date=August 2015}}

===Royal New Zealand Air Force===
[[File:487 Squadron RNZAF NCOs RAF Methold early 1943.JPG|thumb|487 Squadron NCOs at [[RAF Methwold]] early 1943]]
From August 1942, 487 Squadron RNZAF, (operating in Europe as part of the RAF), was equipped with the type, although losses (including on 3 May 1943 the loss of all 11 aircraft attacking Amsterdam), led to their replacement with the de Havilland Mosquito in June.

The [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] in the [[Pacific]] received 139 Venturas and some Harpoons from June 1943 to replace Lockheed Hudsons in the maritime patrol bomber and medium bomber roles. Initially Venturas were unpopular with the RNZAF due to rumoured poor performance on one engine, the fate of Squadron Leader Leonard Trent VC of 487 Squadron (above) as well as the failure of the U.S. to provide [[New Zealand]] with promised [[B-24 Liberator]]s. Despite that the RNZAF Venturas came to be among the most widely used of any nation's, seeing substantial action until [[Victory over Japan Day|VJ Day]] over South West Pacific islands.

The first 19 RB-34s that arrived by sea from the U.S. in June had much equipment either missing or damaged. Six airworthy machines were hurriedly produced by cannibalization and sent into action with [[No. 3 Squadron RNZAF]] in [[Fiji]]. On 26 June the first PV-1s were flown to [[Whenuapai]] and [[No. 1 Squadron RNZAF]] was able to convert to 18 of these by 1 August, then replacing the mixed 3 Squadron in action at [[Henderson Field (Guadalcanal)|Henderson Field]], [[Guadalcanal]] in late October.

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.

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-engine fighters over St. George's Channel. It shot down three, later confirmed, and claimed two others as probable, 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 frontline 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]].

Planned re-equipment with de Havilland Mosquitos did not take place until after the cessation of hostilities. The last Ventura unit was No. 2 Squadron, which continued to operate PV-1 and PV-2 aircraft on meteorological duty until 1948. A restored RNZAF RB-34 (NZ4600) is owned by the [[Museum of Transport and Technology]] in [[Auckland]].

===United States Army Air Forces===
Some 264 Ventura Mark IIs ordered by the RAF were transferred to the U.S. Army Air Force.<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.

===United States Navy===
[[File:PV-1 VPB-147 Caribbean 1944.jpg|thumb|PV-1s of [[VPB-147]] in the Caribbean in 1944.]]
[[File:Lockheed PV-2s VP-136 Whidbey Island 1947.jpg|thumb|PV-2s of [[VP-3|VPB-136]] at [[Naval Air Station Whidbey Island]], c.1945–46]]
[[File:Hawkins Field Betio Tarawa March 1944.jpg|thumb|Long range aircraft at [[Hawkins Field (Tarawa)]], March 1944]]

During the early months of 1942, the primary responsibility for anti-submarine warfare in the United States was shouldered by the Army Air Forces. This irked the Navy, as it considered this region of battle its burden. To carry out such a task, the Navy was pursuing a long-range, land-based patrol and reconnaissance aircraft with a substantial bomb load. This goal was always resisted by the Army Air Forces, which carefully protected its monopoly on land-based bombing. This forced the navy to use long-range floatplanes for these roles. The Navy was unable to upgrade to more capable aircraft until the Army Air Forces needed the Navy plant in [[Renton, Washington]] to manufacture its [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]]. In exchange for use of the Renton plant, the Army Air Forces would discontinue its objections to Naval land-based bombers, and provide aircraft to the Navy. One of the clauses of this agreement stated that production of the B-34 and B-37 by Lockheed would cease, and instead these resources would be directed at building a navalized version, the '''PV-1 Ventura'''.

The PV-1 began to be delivered in December 1942, and entered service in February 1943. The first squadron in combat was VP-135, deployed in the Aleutian Islands in April 1943. They were operated by three other squadrons in this theatre. From the Aleutians, they flew strikes against Paramushiro, a Japanese island. Often, PV-1s would lead B-24 bomber formations, since they were equipped with radar. In late 1943, PV-1s were deployed to the Solomon Islands and to the newly captured field at [[Tarawa]] in the [[Gilbert Islands]]. After the war, the U.S. Navy deemed many PV-1s obsolete and the aircraft were sent to [[Clinton-Sherman Industrial Airpark|Naval Air Station Clinton]], Oklahoma to be demilitarized and reduced to scrap.

===Other operators===
* [[Brazil]] (15 Venturas, 5 Harpoons)
* [[Italy]] (22 Harpoons)
* [[Japan]] (17 Harpoons)
* [[Netherlands]] (18 Harpoons)
* [[Peru]] (6 Harpoons)

==Variants==
[[File:Lockheed B-37 USAAF.jpg|thumb|One of 18 USAAF B-37s, 1943.]]
[[File:PV-3 NAN12-2-43.jpg|thumb|A PV-3 in early 1943. It was assigned in October 1942 to [[VPB-125|VP-82]] which operated from [[Naval Air Station Argentia]], Newfoundland on anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic.]]
;B-34
:US designation for the Model 137 (with 2000hp R-2800-31 engines) bought for the Royal Air Force, 200 built and designated the '''Ventura IIA''' by the [[United Kingdom|British]].<ref name="serials">Andrade 1979, pp. 52–53, 207–208, 247.</ref>
;B-34A
:Former Royal Air Force Venturas returned to USAAF under a reverse lend-lease.<ref name="serials" />
;B-34B
:B-34As converted as navigation trainers.<ref name="serials" />
;B-37
:Lockheed Model 437 for the USAAF (with 1700hp R-2600-13 engines), only 18 out of an order of 550 built for armed observation. Originally designated the '''O-56''', it was later designated the RB-37.<ref name="serials" />
;PV-1
:United States Navy version of the B-34; 1,600 built. A total of 388 were delivered to the Royal Air Force as the Ventura GR.V, others to the RAAF, RNZAF and SAAF.<ref name="serials" />
;PV-1P
:Designation for PV-1s fitted with a camera installation.<ref name="serials" />
;PV-2 Harpoon
:Updated model with larger fin and wing area; 470 built.<ref name="serials" />
;PV-2C
:Modified version of the PV-2 used for training; 30 built.<ref name="serials" />
;PV-2D
:Same as PV-2 but with eight 0.5in nose guns; 35 built.<ref name="serials" />
;PV-2T
:Designation for PV-2s used for crew training.<ref name="serials" />
;PV-3
:Twenty-seven former RAF Ventura IIs requisitioned by the USN.<ref name="serials" />
;Ventura I
:R-2800-S1A4-G powered variant for the Royal Air Force; 188 built, 30 to the RCAF and some to the SAAF, later re-designated the Ventura GR.I.<ref name="serials" />
;Ventura II
:R-2800-31 powered variant for the RAF, 487 built, some transferred to the USAAC and USN.<ref name="serials" />
;Ventura IIA
:British designation for the B-34.<ref name="serials" />
;Ventura V
:British designation for the PV-1, later designated Ventura GR.V.<ref name="serials" />

==Operators==
[[File:SAAF-Lockheed PV1 Ventura-001.jpg|thumb|Retired PV-1 at the SAAF Museum]]
[[File:JMSDF PV-2.jpg|thumb|[[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]] PV-2]]
;{{AUS}}
* [[Royal Australian Air Force]] 75 aircraft, 1943–1946
{{Div col}}
** [[No. 13 Squadron RAAF]]
** [[No. 459 Squadron RAAF]]
** [[No. 464 Squadron RAAF]]
{{Div col end}}
;{{BRA}}
* [[Brazilian Air Force]] 20 aircraft 1944–1956
** 1st Medium Bomber Group

;{{flag|Canada|1921}}
* [[Royal Canadian Air Force|Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF)]] 286 aircraft 1943–1957
** Operational Squadrons of the Home War Establishment (HWE):
{{Div col}}
** [[No. 8 Squadron RCAF]]
** [[No. 113 Squadron RCAF]]
** [[No. 115 Squadron RCAF]]
** [[No. 145 Squadron RCAF]]
** [[No. 149 Squadron RCAF]]
{{Div col end}}
;{{FRA}}
* [[French Navy]] – ''[[Aeronavale]]'' 1944–1961
** [[:fr:Flottille 6F|''Flottille 6F'']] (PV-1 only, from 1944 to 1947)
** [[Escadrille 11S]] (PV-1 from 1947 to 1953 and six PV-2s from 1953 to 1960) for transport duty only.

;{{ITA}}
* [[Italian Air Force]] operated 22 Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon from 1953 until 1959<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/italy/af/ital-af2-all-time.htm|title=Italian Air Force Aircraft Types|website=www.aeroflight.co.uk}}</ref>

;{{JPN}}
* [[Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force]] 17 aircraft from 1955 to 1960
** [[Kanoya Flying Training Wing]]

;{{NLD}}
* [[Dutch Naval Aviation Service]] 18 aircraft from 1951 to 1955
** [[No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF]]

;{{NZL}}
* [[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] 143 aircraft from 1943 to 1948
{{Div col}}
** [[No. 1 Squadron RNZAF]]
** [[No. 2 Squadron RNZAF]]
** [[No. 3 Squadron RNZAF]]
** [[No. 4 Squadron RNZAF]]
** [[No. 8 Squadron RNZAF]]
** [[No. 9 Squadron RNZAF]]
** [[No. 487 Squadron RNZAF]]
** No. 1 (B) OTU
** No. 14 Servicing Unit
{{Div col end}}
;{{PRT}}
* [[Portuguese Air Force]] 42 aircraft from 1954 to 1975
** Squadron 61, [[Montijo Air Base]] (1954–1960)
** Squadron 62, Montijo Air Base (1954–1960)
** Squadron 91, Luanda Air Base, [[Portuguese Angola|Angola]] (1961–1971)
** Squadron 103, Beira Air Base, [[Portuguese Mozambique|Mozambique]] (1962)
** Squadron 101, Beira Air Base, Mozambique (1962–1975)
** Squadron 401, Henrique de Carvalho Air Base, Angola (1971–1975)

;{{Flag|South Africa|1928}} to 1960
* [[South African Air Force]]
{{Div col}}
** [[17 Squadron SAAF]]
** [[22 Squadron SAAF]]
** [[23 Squadron SAAF]]
** [[25 Squadron SAAF]]
** [[27 Squadron SAAF]]
** [[29 Squadron SAAF]]
** [[60 Squadron SAAF]]
{{Div col end}}
;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Air Force]]
{{Div col}}
** [[No. 13 Squadron RAF]] (Coastal Command)
** [[No. 21 Squadron RAF]]
** [[No. 299 Squadron RAF]]
** [[No. 500 Squadron RAF]]
** [[No. 519 Squadron RAF]] (Coastal Command)
** [[No. 521 Squadron RAF]] (Coastal Command)
** [[No. 624 Squadron RAF]]
** [[RCAF Station Pennfield Ridge|No. 34 OTU, RAF, operated from Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick]]
** Air Headquarters Iraq Communication Flight<ref>Lake, Alan 1999 p. 18.</ref>
{{Div col end}}
* [[Royal Navy]] 1 aircraft for evaluation only
;{{USA}}
[[File:PV-1 night fighter VMF(N)-531 1943.jpg|thumb|A USMC PV-1 night fighter from [[VMF(N)-531]] in the Solomons, 1943.]]
[[File:PBY-5A PV-1 Aleutians 1943.jpg|thumb|PBY-5As and PV-1s of [[VP-5|VPB-135]] on an Aleutian airfield in 1943, most likely [[Atka Island]].]]
* [[United States Marine Corps]]
** [[VMF(N)-531]]
* [[United States Navy]]
{{Div col}}
** [[VPB-125|VB/VPB-125]] — (PV-1) September 1942 – June 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p548-9">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 548–549.</ref>
** [[VPB-126|VB/VPB-126]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – June 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p553">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, p. 553.</ref>
** [[VPB-127|VB/VPB-127]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – July 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p555-6">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 555–556.</ref>
** [[VP-1|VB/VPB-128, VP-ML-1]] — (PV-1) February 1943 – November 1946, (PV-2) November 1946 – September 1947<ref name="Danas c3 p18-9,2">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 18–19, 23.</ref>
** [[VPB-129|VB/VPB-129]] — (PV-1) April 1943 – June 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p557-9">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 557–559.</ref>
** [[VP-2|VB/VPB-130, VP-ML-2]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – May 1945, (PV-2) August 1945 – March 1947<ref name="Danas c3 p26-7">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 26–27.</ref>
** [[VP-131|VB/VPB-131]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – August 1945, (PV-2) September 1945 – April 1946.<ref name="Danas c3 p373-5">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 373–375.</ref>
** [[VPB-132|VB/VPB-132]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – May 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p561-2">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 561–562.</ref>
** [[VP-133|VB/VPB-133]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – 1946, (PV-2) 1946<ref name="Danas c3 p377-9">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 377–379.</ref>
** [[VPB-134]]VB/VPB-134 — (PV-1) April 1943 – April 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p563-4">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 563–564.</ref>
** [[VP-5|VB/VPB-135, VP-ML-5]] — (PV-1) February 1943 – June 1945, (PV-2) June 1945 – June 1948<ref name="Danas c3 p42,5-6">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 42, 45–46.</ref>
** [[VP-3|VB/VPB-136]] — (PV-1) June 1943 – March 1945, (PV-2) May 1945 – 1946<ref name="Danas c3 p29-3">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 29–33.</ref>
** [[VPB-137|VB/VPB-137]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – July 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p565-6">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 565–566.</ref>
** [[VP-HL-3|VB/VPB-138]] — (PV-1) March 1943 – November 1944<ref name="Danas c5 p625,7">Roberts 2000, pp. 625, 627.</ref>
** [[VPB-139|VB/VPB-139]] — (PV-1) May 1943 – June 1944, (PV-2) August 1944 – September 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p567-8">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 567–568.</ref>
** [[VP-123|VB/VPB-140]] — (PV-1) April 1943 – May 1944<ref name="Danas c3 p370-1">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 370–371.</ref>
** [[VPB-141|VB/VPB-141]] — (PV-1) July 1943 – April 1945, (PV-2) April 1945 – June 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p570-1">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 570–561.</ref>
** [[VP-142|VB/VPB-142]] — (PV-1) June 1943 – January 1945, (PV-2) January 1945 – May 1946<ref name="Danas c3 p382-3">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 382–383.</ref>
** [[VP-HL-5|VB/VPB-143]] — (PV-1) June 1943 – 1945<ref name="Danas c5 p629-0">Roberts 2000, pp. 629–630.</ref>
** [[Patrol Squadron 4 (United States Navy)|VB/VPB-144]] — (PV-1) July 1943 – September 1944, (PV-2) November 1944 – May 1946<ref name="Danas c3 p34-5">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 34–35.</ref>
** [[VPB-145|VB/VPB-145]] — (PV-1) July 1943 – June 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p572-3">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 572–573.</ref>
** [[VP-6|VB/VPB/VP-146, VP-ML-6]] — (PV-1) July 1943 – February 1945, (PV-2) April 1945 – February 1948<ref name="Danas c3 p53-4,7">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 53–54, 57.</ref>
** [[VPB-147|VB/VPB-147]] — (PV-1) August 1943 –May 1945, (PV-2) April 1945 – July 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p574-5">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 574–575.</ref>
** [[VP-148|VB/VPB-148]] — (PV-1) October 1943 – April 1945, (PV-2) June 1945 – June 1946<ref name="Danas c3 p383-4">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 383–384.</ref>
** [[VPB-149|VB/VPB-149]] — (PV-1) September 1943 – September 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p576-7">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 576–577.</ref>
** [[VPB-150|VB/VPB-150]] — (PV-1) November 1943 – March 1945, (PV-2) May 1945 – July 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p578-0">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 578–580.</ref>
** [[VPB-151|VB/VPB-151]] — (PV-1) January 1944 – June 1945<ref name="Danas c4 p581-2">Roberts 2000, Chapter 4, pp. 581–582.</ref>
** [[VP-152|VB/VPB-152]] — (PV-1) April 1944 – June 1946<ref name="Danas c3 p385-6">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 385–386.</ref>
** [[VP-153|VB/VPB-153]] — (PV-1) April 1944 – October 1945, (PV-2) November 1945 – June 1946<ref name="Danas c3 p387-8">Roberts 2000, Chapter 3, pp. 387–388.</ref>
** [[VPB-200|VB/VPB-200]]
** VD-2
{{Div col end}}

==Surviving aircraft==

===Australia===
;Under restoration
*PV-1 ?? – former RAAF aircraft A59-73, owned by the East Arnhemland Historical Society and under restoration in [[Darwin, Northern Territory|Darwin]] for eventual display at [[Gove Airport|Gove]], [[Northern Territory]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adf-serials.com.au/2a59.htm|title = ADF Serials - Ventura}}</ref>
*PV-1 49555 – under restoration by the [[Queensland Air Museum]] in [[Caloundra]], [[Queensland]], painted with its Royal Australian Air Force serial of A59-96.<ref>[http://www.qam.com.au/aircraft/ventura/A59-96.htm "PV-1 Ventura/49555."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318082644/http://www.qam.com.au/aircraft/ventura/A59-96.htm |date=2012-03-18 }} ''Queensland Air Museum.'' Retrieved: 2 April 2012.</ref>
;Stored
* 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=RAAF Museum: 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>

===Brazil===
;On display
*PV-1 48654, c/n 237–58906, former N165H – [[Museu Aeroespacial]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]].<ref>[http://www.musal.aer.mil.br/ "Lockheed PV-1/Bu. 48654"] ''Musea Aeroespacial – in Spanish'' Retrieved: 29 August 2014.</ref>

===Canada===
;Under restoration
* PV-1 33315 – under restoration by the Ventura Memorial Flight Association in [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]].<ref>[http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pv1venturaregistry/pv1ventura-33315.html "PV-1 Ventura/33315."] ''Warbird Registry.'' Retrieved: 1 June 2011.</ref>

===Italy===
;On display
Lokheed PV-1 Ventura Harpoon m.m.80074 – Museo Piana delle Orme - Latina - Italy

===New Zealand===
;On display
*RB-34 41-38117 (NZ4600) – [[Museum of Transport and Technology]] in [[Auckland]].<ref>[http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pv1venturaregistry/pv1ventura-4138117.html "RB-34 Ventura/41-38117."] ''Warbirds Resource Group.'' Retrieved: 20 April 2011.</ref>

===South Africa===
;On display
* PV-1 34759 – Dickie Fritz Shell Hole M.O.T.H. compound in [[Johannesburg]].<ref>[http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pv1venturaregistry/pv1ventura-34759.html "PV-1 Ventura/34759."] ''Warbirds Resource Group.'' Retrieved: 20 April 2011.</ref>

===United States===
;Airworthy
*PV-1 34670 – privately owned in [[Eagan, Minnesota]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=500LN "FAA Registry: N500LN."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37107 – privately owned in [[Orange, California]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7261C "FAA Registry: N7261C."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37129 - Wingspan Air Heritage Foundation in [[Mesa, Arizona]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7268C "FAA Registry: N7268C."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37211 – [[Palm Springs Air Museum]] in [[Palm Springs, California]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7273C "FAA Registry: N7273C."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://palmspringsairmuseum.org/aircraft/ "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 37211."] ''Palm Springs Air Museum.'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37270 – Wingspan Air Heritage Foundation in [[Mesa, Arizona]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7257C "FAA Registry: N7257C"] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37276 - privately owned in [[Eugene, Oregon]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7272C "FAA Registry: N7272C."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37254 – privately owned in Fairacres, [[New Mexico]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=2PV "FAA Registry: N2PV."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37396 – American Military Heritage Foundation in [[Indianapolis, Indiana]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7265C "FAA Registry: N7256C."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref><ref>[https://islanddoll.org/the-plane "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 37396."] ''American Military Heritage Foundation.'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37466 – privately owned in [[Orange, California]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=6855C "FAA Registry: N6855C."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 37507 - privately owned in [[Mesa, Arizona]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=86492 "FAA Registry: N86492."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</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>
*PV-2 37633 – Wingspan Air Heritage Foundation in [[Mesa, Arizona]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7454C "FAA Registry: N7454C."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref>
*PV-2 84062 – Stockton Field Aviation Museum in [[Stockton, California]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=6657D "FAA Registry: N6657D."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 19 July 2021.</ref><ref>[http://www.twinbeech.com/PV2D84062.htm "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 84062."] ''Stockton Field Aviation Museum.'' Retrieved: 23 February 2014.</ref>
;On display
*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]]. 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."]{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''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 37492 – painted (yellow) and marked "Air Tropic Island Charters" at Mayday Golf in [[North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina]].<ref>[http://maydaygolf.com/ "PV-2 Harpoon/Bu. 37492."] ''Mayday Golf.'' Retrieved: 21 August 2012.</ref>
;Under restoration or in storage
*PV-2 37202 – in storage at the [[Fantasy of Flight]] in [[Polk City, Florida]].<ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7483C "FAA Registry: N7483C."] ''FAA.gov'' 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>

==Specifications (B-34 Lexington)==
[[File:Lockheed PV-1 Ventura 3-view line drawing.png|frameless|right|3-view line drawing of the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura]]
[[File:Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon 3 view drawing.jpg|frameless|right|PV-2 Harpoon 3-side-drawing]]

{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = imp
|ref={{Citation needed|date=September 2008}}
|crew=6
|length ft=51
|length in=5
|length m=15.7 
|span ft=65
|span in=6
|span m=20 
|height ft=11
|height in=10
|height m=3.6 
|wing area sqft=551
|wing area sqm=51.2
|empty weight lb=20197 
|empty weight kg=9161 
|gross weight lb=31000 
|gross weight kg=14061 
|max takeoff weight lb=34000 
|max takeoff weight kg=15422 
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-2800]]
|eng1 type= [[radial engine]]s
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 hp=2000 
|max speed mph=322 
|max speed kmh=518 
|cruise speed mph=230 
|cruise speed kmh=370 
|range miles=1660 
|range km=2,670 
|range more=
|ferry range miles=2600 
|ferry range km=4200 
|ceiling ft=26,300 
|ceiling m=8020 
|climb rate ftmin=2035 
|climb rate ms=15.4 
|wing loading lb/sqft=56.4
|wing loading kg/m2=275
|power/mass=0.13 hp/lb (0.21 kW/kg)
|guns=<br>
** 4 × [[.50 BMG]] (12.7 mm) [[Browning M2|Browning M2 machine guns]]
** 2 × .30 cal. (7.62 mm) [[M1919 Browning machine gun]]s
|bombs=<br>
** 3,000 lb (1,400 kg) general ordnance ''or''
** 6 × 325 lb (147 kg) [[depth charge]]s ''or''
** 1 × [[torpedo]]
}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|similar aircraft=
* [[Junkers Ju 88]]
* [[Kyushu Q1W]] ''Tōkai''
|lists=
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
* [[List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)]]
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
* [[List of Lockheed aircraft]]
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
|see also=
* [[Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon No. 37396]]
}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Andrade, John. ''U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909''. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. {{ISBN|0-904597-22-9}}.
* Bowyer, Michael J. F. ''2 Group R.A.F.: A Complete History, 1936–1945''.London: Faber and Faber, 1974. {{ISBN|0-571-09491-0}}.
* [[Alan C. Carey|Carey, Alan C.]] ''PV Ventura / Harpoon Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 34)''. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. {{ISBN|1-84176-383-7}}.
* Francillon, René J. ''Lockheed Aircraft since 1913''. London: Putnam, 1982. {{ISBN|0-370-30329-6}}.
* Marson, Peter J., ''The Lockheed Twins''. Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd, Tonbridge, Kent, 2001. {{ISBN|0-85130-284-X}}.
* Roberts, Michael D., Captain, MSC, USNR (Ret.).[http://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/naval-aviation-history/dictionary-of-american-naval-aviation-squadrons-volume-2.html ''Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons, Volume 2: The History of VP, VPB, VP(H) and VP(AM) Squadrons.''] Washington, D.C.: Naval Aviation History Office, 2000.
* Scrivner, Charles L. and W.E. Scarborough, Captain USN (ret). ''Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Action''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc., 1981. {{ISBN|0-89747-118-0}}.
* Stanaway, John C. ''Vega Ventura: The Operational Story of Lockheed's Lucky Star''. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2000. {{ISBN|0-7643-0087-3}}.
* [[John W. R. Taylor|Taylor, John W. R.]] ''Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66''. London: Sampson Low, Marston, 1965.
* Lake, Alan. ''FLYING UNITS OF THE RAF – The ancestry, formation and disbandment of all flying units from 1912''. England: Alan Lake, 1999, {{ISBN|1-84037-086-6}}.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lockheed Ventura}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110930160458/http://www.nwrain.com/~newtsuit/recoveries/lkwash/pv2d/pv2dg1.htm The aircraft in Lake Washington.]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080125231256/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2536 USAF Museum B-34 fact sheet]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090806051724/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2545 USAF Museum B-37 fact sheet]
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=xiADAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+science+%22A+two-room+wing%22&pg=PA116 "The Versatile Ventura"] June 1945 ''Popular Science''—note: rare photos of loading of various weapon loads
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=p98DAAAAMBAJ&dq=true&pg=PA10 "2000 Mile Navy Bomber"] ''Popular Mechanics'', November 1945, p.&nbsp;10.
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070403180938/http://www.flightjournal.com/fj/articles/ventura/ventura_1.asp Ralls Clotfelter, 2003, "PV-1 Ventura in the Pacific – Lockheed's forgotten warbird"] (archive.org copy of [http://www.flightjournal.com/fj/articles/ventura/ventura_1.asp the original] as of 3 April 2007 )
* [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b34.html Encyclopedia of American Aircraft]
* [http://www.vpnavy.org/index.html US Navy Patrol Squadrons]
* [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/bomber/ PBS Nova program about "Bomber 31"]
* [http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/ven1.html Web site about RNZAF use]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100821051340/http://www.rcafventura.ca/ Ventura Memorial Flight Association (VMFA)]
* [http://albertaaviationmuseum.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=38&Itemid=41 Alberta Aviation Museum]
* [http://www.amhf.org/ American Military Heritage Foundation (AMHF)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081011103852/http://homepage.ntlworld.com/m.zoeller/ Lockheed Twins Site – civil Ventura conversions]
* [https://www.scribd.com/doc/56157203 1946 manual AN 01-55ED-1 Pilots Handbook for Navy Model PV-2 PV-2C PV-2D Airplanes]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
* [http://www.warbirdregistry.org/pv1venturaregistry/pv1venturaregistry.html Registry Of Lockheed PV-1 Ventura survivors]

{{Lockheed Model 10 Electra family}}
{{Lockheed}}
{{AircraftDesignationNavboxShell
  |1={{USAF bomber aircraft}}
  |2={{USAAF observation aircraft}}
  |3={{USN patrol aircraft}}
  |4={{ADF aircraft designations}}  
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Lockheed aircraft|Ventura]]
[[Category:1940s United States bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:1940s United States patrol aircraft]]
[[Category:World War II patrol aircraft of the United States]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1941]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Twin-tail aircraft]]