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Lockheed PV / B-34 Lexington

The PV-2 Harpoon and PV-1,3, B-34 Lexington (USAAF version of the PV Harpoon/Ventura) and B-37 Ventura were sea patrol and ASW (Anti-Submarine Warfare) aircraft, developed from the model 18 Lodestar. Compared with the A-28 and A-29 Hudson the Ventura was more powerful and better armed, but it had a shorter range because it did not carry more fuel. The Harpoon was a long-range version of the Ventura. Lockheed B-34 Lexington was a USAAF version of the PV-2 Harpoon, Lockheed B-37 Ventura was developed from B-34.

General characteristics PV-1
Primary function	Reconaissance / bomber
Contractor	Vega Aircraft Corporation
Power plant	Two Pratt&Whitney R-2800 engines
Thrust	2x 1,850 HP		2x 1,380 kW
Wingspan	65.5 ft		19.96 m
Length	51.7 ft		15.77 m
Height	13.1 ft		4 m
Wingarea	551 sq ft		51.19 sq m
Weight	empty	19,375 lb	8,788 kg
	max.	31,080 lb	14,097 kg
Speed	300 mph		483 km/h
Ceiling	26,300 ft		8,015 m
Max. range	900 miles		1,448 km
Armament	4x 12.7mm and 2x 7.62mm machine gun; 1,134 kg bombs
Date deployed	1940
General characteristics PV-2
Primary function	Reconaissance / ASW
Contractor	Vega Aircraft Corporation
Power plant	Two Pratt&Whitney R-2800-31 engines
Thrust	2x 2,000 HP		2x 1,491 kW
Wingspan	75 ft		22.86 m
Height	14.1 ft		4.29 m
Weight	empty	24,000 lb	10,886 kg
	max.	40,000 lb	18,144 kg
Speed	282 mph		454 km/h
Ceiling	23,950 ft		7,300 m
Max. range	900 miles		1,448 km
Armament	9x 12.7mm machine gun; 1,814 kg bombs (torpedoes) or cargo
Crew	Five
Date deployed	1944

these two photos were taken during WWII by my father-in-law (a radio operator on a B-34). The lower photo was taken somewhere over South America. Regards, Earl

Jirka Wagner (If you find some photo send it to me please)