Ventura or Harpoon?

[mike furline]

Admittedly I know little about the PV-1 & 2 subtypes, what is this?

BuNo. 34986, fuselage (window positions) looks to be a PV-1 but with the larger PV-2 vertical stabs.

Regards,
Mike

Last edited by mike furline on Sun Dec 14, 2008 9:58 am, edited 1 time in total.

[PJ]

Mike,
looks like a PV-2 but could possibly be a PV-1 1/2.

[IndyJen]

The wings look short, too. Sure is a PV-2 tail, but there are lots of oddities on that plane. Even the side camera window is an odd size and shape.

I wonder if it's a flight test model, maybe a PV-1 specifically modded to test those tail feathers.

[Bill Walker]

From Joe Baugher's website of USN serials, 34986 was built as a PV-1. No info on any modifications.

[GARY HILTON]

All PV-2 Navy s/n's are 37000 and up, until you get to some D models, and they are 84000's...

I am pretty sure, without having access to my archives, that this is the PV-11/2....

[Todd Hackbarth]

According to the 2001 Air-Britain book "The Lockheed Twins" by Peter J. Marson, BuNo 34986 was ordered and built as a PV-1 Ventura and was accepted and delivered to the U.S. Navy on 20 October 1943. This aircraft was converted as the sole PV-1 1/2 (most likely an unofficial designation) with the addition of a PV-2 Harpoon tail assembly. It went to Patuxent River, Maryland for use in radio testing. To NAS Clinton, Oklahoma 14 September 1945. Stricken from Navy inventory on 31 March 1946 as obsolete/surplus.

Todd

[GARY HILTON]

According to Squadron/Signal's PV-1 Ventura in Action.....34986 was the only aircraft dubbed the PV-1 1/2...as stated before, the PV-2 tail section was grafted onto the PV-1...the result was improved directional control, but required excessive trim changes with power and speed changes...to quote the article..