Lockheed 37 / PV-1 Ventura / PV-2 Harpoon

"...and was built for the US Army Air Force and US Navy..." Actually, only a handful of Venturas were ever accepted by the Army Air Force because an agreement was reached in which all of the Venturas were to be turned over to the Navy for use as patrol bombers. It is a little-remembered fact that, starting in January 1944, Navy Venturas based in the Aleutian Islands carried out a bombing campaign against targets in Northern Japan. At least 11 Venturas are known to have landed in Russian territory when they became too badly damaged to return to the Aleutians. Since the Soviet Union was neutral with regards to Japan, the crews had to be "interned". However, they were quietly repatriated back to the U.S. via Iran. Nevertheless, the Soviets kept the Venturas, several of which the Red Air Force repaired and used operationally.

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Dave Patterson was too modest to tell about his saving a PV-2 in a Dublin Georgia thunderstorm when sudden rain deluge forced a go-around on instruments... a split flap condition almost rolled them inverted but Dave recognized what was happening and lowered flaps enuf to regain control.

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My dad "Ben Menichino" flew with VPB 198, 1944-45. He was a turret gunner. He was stationed at NAS Norfolk, Lake City, Beafort SC, and Moffit CA. He was discharged in 1945 with broken eardrums. I would like to know what other squadrons he was with? Pat

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PV-2D was my first Navy ride. I retired with P-3's

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My dad was a 17 year old, reconnaissance photographer / tail gunner, in a PV-2. He was in the South Pacific and joked that when they would bomb a Japanese submarine he sometimes ended up with a picture of a whale with a big headache. Not very PC now, but in those tough time I can see the grins and groans this would have brought.

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My dad flew this plane in 1944 and says it is a 4000hp beast and would pass a corsair at 5000 ft

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While the Boeing B-29s of the 20th AAF were attacking Japan from the Mariana islands, a little-publicized bombing campaign was also being carried against Japan by aircraft of this type, operating from bases in Alaska's Aleutian Islands.

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Patrol Bomber out of Carribean as a aircraft commander VPB-141

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The Ventura was one of the best medium bombers of the war.It was fast and manouverable.It is considered a failure because the British used it in the wrong way,no aircraft can survive attacking targets deep into enemy territory unescorted. This stupid strategy also doomed several other excellent aircraft

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In the Navy in 1945, I flew in the PV-1 out of Lake City Florida as the mid-upper-deck turret gunner. From my view, I had an opportunity to watch the twin tail assembly twisting right and left; always somewhat disconcerting. My first flight was to practice evasive maneuvers. Our tail gunner found out the hard way you had to force your white hat with the barf through the small round deck port and not just drop it into the open port where it would bounce right back at you.

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My favorite was the 500 it would come in to La Porte TX. for inspections when it was coming we would rebuild the jacks for retractions because it was so heavy the last time i got to change 4 jugs on the bottom of course wish i could do again good time in my life last bird i flew on as crew was C130A Flt. engineer another master piece

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Like the gentleman before me, I also had the pleasure of flying these wonderful Howard conversions of the LB-34 and the Navy version PV-1 and PV-2. Most of my time was spent in the H-400 (N2ES) there were only 10 or 11 ever built, it was the prototype of the H-500. The main difference in the two aircraft was the H-400 had shorter or clipped wings than the H-500 which gave it a higher true airspeed. I flew this aircraft approx. 1200 hours and enjoyed every minute of it. It would hold a sea level cabin to 16,000' and I would flight plan it at 340mph@ 16,000'. Few people no about these aircraft and I feel priveledged to have spent some time with these airplanes. Thank you Mr. Hughes.

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great plane.used by the naval reserve in norfolk va. in the 50,S--PV2

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There is an excellent account of the role of the PV-1 during the WW2 campaign in the Aleutians and the Japanese held Kuril Islands, written by Ralph Wetterhahn, and titled "The Last Flight of Bomber 31" (2004).

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California-1943: My brother was drafted, Momma worked at VEGA (Lockheed)A /C on B-17s. I quit Canoga Park High, went to work at VEGA,B-17 Final Assem. Being only 16 years old, Max.Hrs was 44hrs /wk. But; I always worked overtime on PV-1s & then PV-2s. A tight airplaine to move around in. Got drafted, Infantry. Aboard Troop ship "Seafiddler in the Pacific, "PTO",On the way to Philippines, It ran aground by New Guinea, Jap Sub waters. From nowhere came a PV-1. Lower than the main deck. we looked down as it was flying by. The Pilot waived. You could read the time on his wristwatch. Gawd; were they close. Could've reached down and touched the wing. That PV-1 sounded and looked beautiful. Their P&Ws churned up the water behind them. We sure felt safe now. Two days prior we were almost torpedoed. (The P-2Vs had larger Stabilizers) Bruce Fuhr.... Not: "Der Fuhr"
.

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its perfect but the extra cockpit added a little more drag.

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its perfect but the extra cockpit added a little more drag.

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Used to fly a PV-2 out of Dothan, AL to spray fire ants back in the late 60's. Dothan Aviation also had three B-17s and several Douglas B-25s. Have photos if interested. DP

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I had the distinct pleasure of flying Howard 350 N350K during 1964-65. I then went on to the major airlines and flew DC-8,DC-9,B-727,AIRBUS A-300, and Lockheed 10ll. to this day, my favorites to fly were the HOWARD 350, T-28,
B-727,& L-1011.

The 350 cruised at 312 mph at 12000ft, 57% power.

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I flew the Howard 350 conversion of the PV-1 /B-34 - M200JW Tail Number. lockheed. Some had the Horton / Horton interiors. Large picture windows. Nothing Like the purr of the twin R-2800's and the four bladed Hamilton Stardard square tipped props. I think they were revamped Connie props. Also Flew the Howard 250 Tri-gear L-18 conversion N250W and the Learstar L-18. The Nose gear was supposedly from the WW11 B-26 airplane. It was steerable from the center console and had it's own disc brake that we later removed because of the heavy loads it imposed on the nose gear strut assy. when braking. We cruised Howard 350 at 305 MPH.

Joe Moore

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