Lockheed PV-3 Ventura

The Lockheed PV‑3 Ventura was a twin‑engine medium bomber and patrol aircraft that entered service in the early 1940s as part of the United States Army Air Forces and later the Navy. Developed from the earlier Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar transport, the Ventura combined a robust Stinson‑type fuselage with a high‑performance Wright R‑2600 radial powerplant, delivering up to 1,700 hp per engine. Its first flight occurred in 1941, and production quickly shifted to meet the urgent demand for a fast, long‑range strike platform capable of anti‑shipping, ground‑support, and maritime reconnaissance missions.

Key features included a sleek low‑wing configuration, a spacious bomb bay capable of carrying up to 3 000 lb of ordnance, and defensive armament of multiple .50‑caliber machine guns mounted in dorsal, ventral and tail positions. The aircraft’s modernized navigation suite and radio equipment allowed precise night and over‑water operations, while its retractable landing gear and all‑metal skin gave it superior durability and handling compared with earlier twin‑engine designs.

The PV‑3’s operational record proved pivotal in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters, where it helped close the mid‑war gap in medium‑range strike capability. Its versatility inspired post‑war transport variants and laid the groundwork for the more advanced PV‑2 Harpoon, cementing the Ventura’s place as a bridge between wartime bombers and the emerging era of dedicated patrol and cargo aircraft.