page_title: Lockheed Ventura
section_title: Variants
hierarchical_section_title: Lockheed Ventura / Variants
caption_attribution_description: A Lockheed PV-3 Ventura in flight in early 1943. The PV-3 was the designation given to the final 27 Ventura Mk.IIs reallocated from a Royal Air Force contract. They had been assigned RAF serials AJ511 to AJ537 and were reassigned U.S. Navy BuNos. 33925 to 33951. They were assigned in October 1942 to VP-82 which operated from Newfoundland on anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic.
context_page_description: The Lockheed Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II.
  The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Designated PV-1 by the United States Navy, it entered combat in 1943 in the Pacific. The bomber was also used by the United States Army Air Forces, which designated it the Lockheed B-34 and B-37 as a trainer. British Commonwealth forces also used it in several guises, including antishipping and antisubmarine search and attack.
  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. 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.
  After 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.
context_section_description: B-34
  US designation for the Model 137 (with 2000hp R-2800-31 engines) bought for the Royal Air Force, 200 built and designated the Ventura IIA by the British.
  B-34A
  Former Royal Air Force Venturas returned to USAAF under a reverse lend-lease.
  B-34B
  B-34As converted as navigation trainers.
  B-37
  Lockheed Model 437 for the USAAF (with 1700hp R-2600-13 engines), only 18 out of an order of 550 built for armed observation. Originally designated the O-56, it was later designated the RB-37.
  PV-1
  United States Navy version of the B-34; 1,600 built. A total of 388 were delivered to the Royal Air Force as the Ventura GR.V, others to the RAAF, RNZAF and SAAF.
  PV-1P
  Designation for PV-1s fitted with a camera installation.
  PV-2 Harpoon
  Updated model with larger fin and wing area; 470 built.
  PV-2C
  Modified version of the PV-2 used for training; 30 built.
  PV-2D
  Same as PV-2 but with eight 0.5in nose guns; 35 built.
  PV-2T
  Designation for PV-2s used for crew training.
  PV-3
  Twenty-seven former RAF Ventura IIs requisitioned by the USN.
  Ventura I
  R-2800-S1A4-G powered variant for the Royal Air Force; 188 built, 30 to the RCAF and some to the SAAF, later re-designated the Ventura GR.I.
  Ventura II
  R-2800-31 powered variant for the RAF, 487 built, some transferred to the USAAC and USN.
  Ventura IIA
  British designation for the B-34.
  Ventura V
  British designation for the PV-1, later designated Ventura GR.V.
caption: A PV-3 in early 1943. It was assigned in October 1942 to VP-82 which operated from NAS Argentia, Newfoundland on anti-submarine patrols over the Atlantic.
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