![]() ![]() The RAF placed an order for 487 Ventura Mark IIs 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. 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). Venturas were replaced by the faster de Havilland Mosquito. 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. The RAF ordered 188 Venturas in February 1940, which were delivered from mid-1942. The primary difference was not in layout rather, the Ventura was larger, heavier, and used more powerful engines than the Hudson. The Ventura was very similar to its predecessor, the Lockheed Hudson. Lockheed needed more production capacity and nearby Vega Aircraft Corporation was contracted for building the Ventura. This was followed by an order for 300 Model 37 with Double Wasp engines, then for a further 375 later in 1940. The first British order was placed in February 1940 for 25 Model 32 as bombers. 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.Īfter 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.Īt 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 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. British Commonwealth forces also used it in several guises, including antishipping and antisubmarine search and attack. 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. Designated PV-1 by the United States Navy (US Navy), it entered combat in 1943 in the Pacific. The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Tom's most recent work can be found in Aircraft of the Aces 26: ‘Mustang and Thunderbolt Aces of the Pacific and CBI', Combat Aircraft 16: ‘TBF/TBM Avenger Units of World War 2' and Combat Aircraft 20: ‘TBD Devastator Units of the US Navy'.The Lockheed Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II. He was the first artist to produce material for Osprey Aviation electronically. This is his first book for Osprey.Tom Tullis has illustrated a number of books in both the Aces and Combat Aircraft series. The publication of this volume on the Ventura and Harpoon follows previous aviation works by the author on the PB4Y-1 Liberator, PB4Y-2 Privateer and the PBJ/B-25 Mitchell for Schiffer Publishing Ltd. Since 1997, Alan has taught social studies, reading and behavioral courses in the Georgetown, Texas, public school system. ![]() ![]() A former member of the US Marine Corps Reserve and Army Reserve, he graduated from Southwest Texas State University with a graduate degree in public administration and an undergraduate degree in history. Based in Round Rock, Texas, Alan C Carey has worked as a freelance aviation author since 1999.
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