Lockheed B-37 Ventura

Lockheed Corporation · United States · first flew 1942 · bomber

The B-37 was the USAAF designation applied to a batch of Venturas originally ordered for the RAF and briefly taken over by the USAAF. The aircraft were subsequently transferred to the US Navy as PV-1s or delivered to Allied air forces.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Twin-fin tail; angular fuselage with dorsal turret
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

USAAF designation for Lend-Lease Ventura batch
Twin R-2800 radials in oval cowls on straight mid-wing
Twin-fin tail; angular fuselage with dorsal turret

Externally identical to Ventura I and II; USAAF markings would distinguish B-37s from RAF examples, but the airframe is the same.

Specifications

The Lockheed B-37 Ventura has a length of 15.77 m (52 ft).
It has a wingspan of 19.96 m (65 ft).
Its maximum speed is 518 km/h (322 mph).
Typical crew: 4.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

When the US entered the Second World War, USAAF took over some RAF Ventura contracts, designating the aircraft B-34 and B-37 depending on engine variant. Most were quickly reallocated, and the USAAF made little operational use of the type as a bomber, preferring the B-25 and B-26.

Variants

The B-37 was essentially equivalent to the RAF Ventura II with R-2800-31 engines; the US Navy PV-1 was the major American operational variant.

Where you'll see it

Primarily served as an interim or transfer aircraft; no significant USAAF operational use as a bomber. Reallocated aircraft served with the Royal Air Force, RNZAF, and other Allied forces.

Related aircraft

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