Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

The Lockheed PV‑1 Ventura was a twin‑engine medium bomber and patrol aircraft developed in the early 1940s by the Lockheed Corporation. Originating from the commercial Model 18 Lodestar, the design was radically altered with a deeper fuselage, larger wingspan and more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engines to meet the United States Army Air Forces’ need for a fast, long‑range bomber. First flown in October 1941, the PV‑1 entered service in 1942, initially as the Army’s B‑34 Lexington before being redesignated for Navy and Marine Corps use. Its airframe accommodated up to eight .50‑caliber machine guns, a dorsal turret, and an internal bomb bay capable of carrying 2,000 lb of ordnance; later models added radar and depth‑charge equipment for anti‑submarine warfare. The Ventura’s top speed of 300 mph and range exceeding 1,600 mi made it effective in both European and Pacific theatres, where it performed bombing, transport, reconnaissance, and maritime patrol missions. Over 1,600 PV‑1s were built, and the type’s robust construction, versatile payload and reliable powerplants influenced post‑war patrol aircraft design, cementing its place as a pivotal transitional platform between World War II bombers and Cold‑War maritime patrol planes.

Lockheed Corporation

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

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