Customer Reviews

PV Ventura: Harpoon Units of World War II

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Few attempts at converting civilian airliners to the bomber role have met with success. Case in point: the Lockheed Lodestar. Developed to met a British requirement for a long range anti-submarine patrol aircraft, the modified and re-named PV-1 Ventura saw service in all theaters of war with mixed results. An improved version - the PV-2 Harpoon - had a checkered career due to technical problems. The story of these two warbirds is related in this interesting 'Osprey Combat Aircraft' volume.

Though a success in the Pacific, Med, Caribbean and Aleutians, the Ventura did not fare well over European skies. In large part, this was due to the RAF changing the aircraft's mission from patrol aircraft to daylight bomber. Nicknamed 'the pig' by RAF crews, the Ventura was faulted for inadequate armament, poor maneuverability and slow speed. Losses were heavy and the Ventura was replaced as soon as possible by Bostons, B-25s and Mosquitoes. In all other theaters the aircraft gave splendid service, being flown by numerous USAAF, USN, RAAF, RCAF, RNZAF and SAAF units. The Harpoon saw limited service at war's end due to problems with its fuel tanks, wing spars, etc.

Author Alan Carey does a fine job of relating the Ventura's war record, touching upon ops in all theaters. The amount of detail Carey packs into the 90-odd pages of text is noteworthy as is the wealth of information Carey gleaned from many Ventura aircrew.

Carey's book is illustrated with over 90 photographs, many of them rare, and 10 pages of color profiles by crack illustrator Tom Tullis.

Osprey is to be congratulated for presenting the Ventura/Harpoon story. Though some might consider the PV-1 and -2 'second stringers,' the crews that manned the Ventura and Harpoon flew some hairy missions, contributing to the final victory. Alan Carey's book is an excellent tribute to those men and their aircraft.

Lockheed's Ventura was one of many unsung aircraft to come out of WW II. It served in many theaters and by many countries. There have been few books published about the aircraft so this book from Osprey Publishing is a welcome addition. It is an overview and isn't the definitive history but you will learn something about the plane.