Lockheed Ventura

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Ventura

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.


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

Some 264 Ventura Mark IIs ordered by the RAF were seized by the U.S. Army Air
Forces. Though some were used as anti-submarine patrol bombers under the
designation B-34 Lexington, most were used for training with various stateside
units. 27 of these were used by the United States Navy for anti-submarine
patrols as well; these were designated PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon.

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 bombload. 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 as obsolete and the aircraft were
sent to Naval Air Station Clinton, Oklahoma to be demilitarized and reduced to
scrap.

Specifications (B-34 Lexington)

General characteristics
Crew: 6
Length: 51 ft 5 in (15.7 m)
Wingspan: 65 ft 6 in (20 m)
Height: 11 ft 10 in (3.6 m)
Wing area: 551 ft² (51.2 m²)
Empty weight: 20,197 lb (9,161 kg)
Loaded weight: 31,000 lb (14,061 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 34,000 lb (15,422 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engines, 2,000 hp (1,491 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 322 mph (518 km/h)
Cruise speed: 230 mph (370 km/h)
Range: 1,660 mi (2,670 km)
Ferry range: 2,600 mi (4,200 km)
Service ceiling: 26,300 ft (8,020 m)
Rate of climb: 2,035 ft/min (15.4 m/s)
Wing loading: 56.4 lb/ft² (275 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (0.21 kW/kg)

Armament

Guns:
4 × .50 BMG (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns
2 × .30 cal. (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns

Bombs:
3,000 lb (1,400 kg) general ordnance or
6 × 325 lb (147 kg) depth charges or
1 × torpedo





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