The Lockheed PV-1 Ventura was an American bomber and maritime patrol aircraft used by the US Navy and the RAF during World War II. Although its initial sorties as a light bomber for the British RAF were unsatisfactory, the Ventura would prove to be invaluable in the maritime role. Thus, the US Navy adopted the type as the PV-1 to carry out missions in the Pacific Theater of Operations. A major upgrade of the aircraft to increase range and payload resulted in the PV-2 Harpoon.
The prototype of the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura first flew on July 31, 1941. It was powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines, each of which delivered 2,000 horsepower. It would be introduced into service with the RAF on October 17, 1942, as a bomber, first being assigned to Bomber Command No 21. It first saw combat action on December 6, 1942, during a mission in which 25 Ventura bombers carried out a daylight, low-level attack on the heavily defended industrial plant of Enidhaven, in Holland. The aircraft would enter service with the US Navy on February 17, 1943. It was first deployed to the Aleutian islands and, later in September, to Guadalcanal, after it had been taken and secured from the Japanese.
Below, the American aircraft in service with the US Navy as a maritime patrol in August 1943, flying over the Pacific.
Technical Characteristics
The Lockheed PV-1 Ventura was a twin-engine, medium-size monoplane, which was built with an all-metal fuselage. The aircraft was fitted with cantilever mid-wing, with both the leading and trailing edge tapering towards the tip. The tailplane (horizontal stabilizer) of tail assembly was straight, with a wide span, and it was mounted on top of aft end of fuselage; it had two vertical fins at each end, with their respective rudder. The belly of fuselage slanted upwards along its rear portion to join the dorsal edge in rounded end.
The twin-row, 18-cylinder P&W R-2800 Double Wasp engines that powered the Ventura were great examples of reliable precision machinery. They could absorb an unbelievable amount of battle damage and they continued to run. As self defense against fighters, the bomber and the maritime patrol version had a dorsal turret, which mounted two .50-caliber machine guns, and a weapon station in nose armed with two 7.62-mm machine guns.
Specifications
Type: bomber/maritime patrol aircraft
Length: 15.77 m (51 ft, 8 inches)
Wing Span: 19.96 m (65.6 inches)
Wing Area: 63.73 m2 (686 square feet)
Height: 3.63 m (11 feet, 10 inches)
Power Plant: two 2,000-HP, Pratt & Whitney R-2800-31 Double Wasp, 18-cylinder, radial engines.
Maximum Speed: 518 km/h (321 mph)
Maximum Range: 2,670 km (1,650 miles)
Service Ceiling: 8,015 m (26,300 feet)
Crew: 5
Armament: two 12.7-mm (.50-cal) and two 7.62-mm machine guns; six 227-kg (500-lb) bombs, or one anti-ship torpedo.
Below, the first production aircraft of the Ventura in flight in the skies over England.
The cockpit control instruments board of the bomber.
Below, the PV-1 in the patrol-bomber role on a Pacific island airbase in 1944.
The Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon, which was an upgrade of the PV-1 Ventura.
