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Lockheed
PV-1 Ventura |
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The
British had great success with the Lockheed Hudson and in
September 1939 wanted a most advanced version. Lockheed
responded with a military version of its Model 18 Lodestar
twin-engine passenger plane. The new plane was originally
known as the B-34 Ventura.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, the US military seized all combat aircraft it could get,
and immediately ordered 487 Ventura. 264 were taken over by the USAF and
27 by the US Navy, which called them PV-3. Although some US
Venturas flew antisubmarine patrols, most were used as trainers.
Some were retained in Canada, and over 100 were
delivered to the South African Air Force. The next model was the
Mk. IIA, which had American equipment and guns instead of
British, because it was built to Lend-Lease contracts. The RAF
received only 25, and 45 were sent to Canada. The balance was
again impounded by the USAF, that called these aircraft B-34
Lexington. Most of them were modified to B-34A and B-34B
standards, again for training purposes.
The Navy received its first quantities in
December 1942 as the PV-1 (Ventura). In June 1943 the Navy
ordered a new version under the designation PV-2 and with the
name Harpoon. This version had greater wingspan, increased fuel
capacity and improved armament. The PV-2
served primarily in the Pacific theater, and was well-used
until the end of the war.
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PV-1 Ventura
From our Deluxe Series. 1/48th scale. 16.5"
wingspan by 12.75 long.
No. AENJD-DX. Only $129.95 |
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