Lockheed Ventura PV - 1 and B 34, NZ 4601 to NZ 4639, 1943 to 1948, Part 3

Company:
Lockheed

Wing Span:
65 ft 6 in 19.96 M

Wing Area:
551 sq ft

Length:
51 ft 5 in 19.67 M

Height:
11 t 10 in 3.62 M

Ceiling:
25,200 ft 7,681 M

Range: with Max Load
1,000 Miles 1,609 Km

T/O Weight:
26,000 lb 1,793 Kg

Crew:
1 Pilot
1 Nose Gunner
1 Dorsal Gunner
1 Ventral Gunner

Role:
General Reconnance
Bomber

Total Manufactured:
2,106 All Marks

First Flight:
13 Jul 1941

Developed from:
Lockheed Model 18 Civilian Passenger

Armament:
2 x .5 in Machine Gun in Nose Turret
2 x .5 in Machine Gun in Dorsal Turret
2 x .5 in Machine Gun in Ventral Turret
up to
3,000 lb Bombs Internal

Qty Served:
139

Years Served:
1943 to 1948

Tail Nos:
PV 1 NZ 4501 to NZ 4582
B34 NZ 4583 to NZ 4605
PV 1 NZ 4606 to NZ 4639

ENGINE

Qty:
2

Type:
Pratt & Whitney Double Wasp R2800 – 31
18 cylinder, twin row, air-cooled, radial, supercharged.

Bore:
5.75 in 146.05 mm

Stroke:
6.0 in 152.4 mm

Volume:
2,804 cu in 45.96 L

Horse Power:
2,500 HP

Max RPM:
2,800 RPM

Fuel:
100/130 Octane

Length:
81.4 in 2.068 mm

Diameter:
52.8 in 1.342 mm

Weight:
2,360 lb 1.073 Kg

Power to Weight Ratio:
0.89 hp/lb 1.45 KW/Kg

B 34

NZ 4601

Constructors No.: 4749
USAAF No.: 41-38093
RAF No.: FD 656
Mark: B - 34
RAF Lend – Lease Had only been used by USAAF Units
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 6 Aug 1943
Sold From Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4602

Constructors No.: 4709
USAAF No.: 41-38053
RAF No.: FD 601
Mark: B - 34
RAF Lend – Lease Had only been used by USAAF Units
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 6 Aug 1943
Code letter OP-O
Sold From Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4603

Constructors No.: 4774
USAAF No.: 41-38118
RAF No.: FD 666
Mark: B - 34
RAF Lend – Lease Had only been used by USAAF Units
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 6 Aug 1943
Code letter OP- A
Sold From Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4604

Constructors No.: 4689
USAAF No.: 41-38033
RAF No.: FD 581
Mark: B - 34
RAF Lend – Lease Had only been used by USAAF Units
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 7 Dec 1943
Sold From Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4605

Constructors No.: 4724
USAAF No.: 41-38068
RAF No.: FD 656
Mark: B - 34
RAF Lend – Lease Had only been used by USAAF Units
Assembled by No 1 Aircraft Depot Hobsonville
B O C Unit 36 Hobsonville 7 Dec 1943
Sold From Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

PV - 1

NZ 4606

Constructors No.: 6212
US Navy No.: Bu 49396
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 28 Feb 1944
To 1 Sqn Whenuapai
To Guadalcanal departing 15 Aug 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4607

Constructors No.: 6205
US Navy No.: Bu 49389
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 28 Feb 1944
To 1 Sqn Whenuapai
To Guadalcanal departing 15 Aug 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
To 4 Sqn
A/C swung to Port on take off roll and
Stalled just after leaving the ground at
Emirau 0710 on 1 Jul 1945
W/C Andrew Henderson F/L Alexander Baxter
F/L Arthur Lambie F/S William Torkington
killed

NZ 4608

Constructors No.: 6259
US Navy No.: Bu 49443
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 3 Sqn
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4609

Constructors No.: 6260
US Navy No.: Bu 49444
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
To 1 Sqn
Hit by flak before stalling into the ground
Near Pau Village 0835 on 10 Jun 1945
F/O Ernest Lloyd F/S Arthur Clapham
F/S Allen Hooper F/S Michael Newton
F/S Gordon Stratford killed

NZ 4610

Constructors No.: 6261
US Navy No.: Bu 49445
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 1 Sqn Whenuapai
To Guadalcanal departing 15 Aug 1944
To 75 Sqn Ohakea post war
To 2 Sqn Ohakea 25 Nov 1945
To Storage 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4611

Constructors No.: 6265
US Navy No.: Bu 49449
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 2 Sqn Guadalcanal late 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4612

Constructors No.: 6267
US Navy No.: Bu 49451
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 2 Sqn Guadalcanal late 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
To 75 Sqn Ohakea early post war
To 2 Sqn Ohakea 25 Nov 1945
To storage at Ohakea 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4613

Constructors No.: 6268
US Navy No.: Bu 49452
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 1 Sqn Whenuapai
To Guadalcanal departed 15 Aug 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
Failed to return from a Leaflet dropping
Mission 9 Jun 1945
Wreckage was found on a mountain
Near Kimidam Nov 1945
F/O Norman Benton W/O Chris Jeffares
F/S James Cunneen F/S Robert Buchanan
F/S James Mallett Sgt Norman Merfield
killed

NZ 4614

Constructors No.: 6270
US Navy No.: Bu 49454
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 3 Sqn Bougainville
Left Bougainville on a mission, failed to
Reach target area no trace has been found 9 Sep1944
F/L Roye Stevens F/O John Carson
F/O John Mac Guire P/O Stanley Dawson
W/O Geoffrey Innes missing presumed killed

NZ 4615

Constructors No.: 6272
US Navy No: Bu 49456
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 1 Sqn Whenuapai
To Guadalcanal departing 15 Aug 1944
To 8 sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4616

Constructors No.: 6273
US Navy No.: Bu 49457
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 19 Whenuapai 18 Apr 1944
To 2 Sqn Guadalcanal late 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
To 75 Sqn Ohakea early post war
To storage at Ohakea 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4617

Constructors No.: 6262
US Navy No.: Bu 49446
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 6 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Ohakea 25 Nov 1945
To Storage at Ohakea 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4618

Constructors No.: 6263
US Navy No.: Bu 49447
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 6 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945
Tyre burst on take off from Jacquinot Bay
U/C collapsed 22 Sep 1945
Parts were salvaged by MOTAT
For use in restoration of NZ 4600 1972 – 1973

NZ 4619

Constructors No.: 6264
US Navy No.: Bu 49448
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 6 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Guadalcanal late 1944
To 8 Sqn Guadalcanal Jan 1945
To 4 Sqn
A/C returned to the field and circuited at 75 ft
While carrying out a steep turn it rolled over
And crashed inverted into Seeadler Harbour 1545 on 29 Aug 1945
F/S Richard Anderson F/S Arthur Doreen
F/S Joseph Hartley F/S Jack Mummery
F/S Kenneth Taylor Cpl James Gibson
killed

NZ 4620

Constructors No.: 6266
US Navy No.: Bu 49450
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 6 May 1944
To 8 Sqn Nausori, Fiji Nov 1944
To 2 Sqn Ohakea 25 Nov 1945
To storage at Ohakea 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4621

Constructors No.: 6269
US Navy No.: Bu 49453
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 6 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Guadalcanal late 1942 to 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
To 2 Sqn Ohakea 25 Nov 1945
To storage at Ohakea 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4622

Constructors Mo.: 6334
US Navy No.: Bu 49518
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 6 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 – 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4623

Constructors No.: 6338
US Navy No.: Bu 49522
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 6 May 1944
To 4 Sqn
Missing on a flight from Bougainville to Emirau
Wreckage found 15 miles from departure
No trace of crew 6 Jan 1945
W/C Norman Lecher F/L John Wright
F/L Harold Thomson F/O Barclay Harrington
W/O William Boughey Sgt Rex Mossman
Sgt Lewis Mawson missing presumed killed

NZ 4624

Constructors No.: 6271
US Navy No.: Bu 49455
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 Sqn
Ditched on ferry flight from Gisborne
To Espiritu Santo 26 Oct 1944

NZ 4625

Constructors No.: 6331
US Navy No.: Bu 49515
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 – 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4626

Constructors No.: 6332
US Navy No.: Bu 49516
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 BR Sqn Gisborne Aug 1944
To Guadalcanal departing 23 Oct 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4627

Constructors No.; 6333
US Navy No.: Bu 49517
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 – 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4628

Constructors No.: 6335
US Navy No. ; Bu 49519
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 – 30 Sep 194
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
To 2 Sqn Ohakea 25 Nov 1945
To Storage at Ohakea 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4629

Constructors No.; 6336
US Navy No.: Bu 49520
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 – 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4630

Constructs No: 6337
US Navy No: Bu 49521
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 8 Sqn Nausori, Fiji Nov 1944
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4631

Constructors No 6339
US Navy No.: Bu 49523
Mark: PV -1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 – 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
No further records

NZ 4632

Constructors No.: 6340
US Navy No.: Bu 49524
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945
Swung on take off roll, failed to get
Airborne
Crashed at Jacquinot Bay 14 Jul 1945
Written off

NZ 4633

Constructors No,: 6395
US Navy No Bu 49579
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C 1 ASU Hamilton 15 Jun 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 – 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Laresen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4634

Constructors No.: 6394
US Navy No,: Bu 49580
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 24 May 1944
To 1 Sqn
Supply dropping when it failed to climb,
Stalled into ridge near Aita River 20 Dec 1944
F/L Dennis Hobbs F/L Robert Scarlett
W/O Stanley Nuttall F/S Fred Murphy
killed
F/S N Gardiner Injured

NZ 4635

Constructors No,: 6398 PV-1
US Navy No. Bu 49582
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 15 Jun 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945- 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4636

Constructors No,: 6399
US Navy No.: Bu 49583
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 15 Jun 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945- 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

NZ 4637

Constructors No.: 6400
US Navy No.: Bu 49584
Mark: PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 15 Jun 1944
To 2 Sqn Green Island early 1945 - 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

Image Source

NZ 4638

Constructors No.: 6401 PV-1
US Navy No.: Bu 49585
Mark: PV -1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaioi
B O C Unit 45 Hamilton 15 Jun 1944
To 75 Sqn Ohakea early post war
To 2 Sqn Ohakea 25 Nov 1945
To Storage at Ohakea 1 Jun 1946
Written off broken up at Ohakea 1948

NZ 4639

Constructors No.: 6397
US Navy No.: Bu 49581
Mark PV - 1
Assembled at Oahu Hawaii
B O C 1 ASU Hamilton 6 Aug 1944
To 2 Sqn Whenuapai May-Jun 1945
To 2 Sqn Green Island Mid 1945- 30 Sep 1945
To Rukuhia Oct 1945
Sold from Rukuhia
To J Larsen Palmerston North 2 Mar 1948

PV 1 USN Lend Lease
B 34 RAF Lend Lease, but used by USAAF units only
These 23 Aircraft used and unsuitable for operations were shipped to Ford Island
Pearl Harbour Hawaii. Assembled and Flown to Auckland Jun - Nov 1944

Flown By:

1 BR Sqn Whenuapai Jun - Jul 1943
2 BR Sqn
3 BR Sqn
9 BR Sqn
1 BOTU Ohakea
4 Sqn Fiji B34’s in Training Role
14 Support Unit
9 Sqn Whenuapai in Training Role
2 Sqn Ohakea 1945 to 1947

Accidental

NZ 4508

Enemy Action

NZ 4522 NZ 4609

Crashed Flying Maneuver

NZ 4501 NZ 4518 NZ 4538 NZ 4619 NZ 4634

Crashed Take Off / Landing

NZ 4517 NZ 4526 NZ 4533 NZ 4540 NZ 4545
NZ 4546 NZ 4547 NZ 4550 NZ 4562 NZ 4564
NZ 4571 NZ 4580 NZ 4607 NZ 4618 NZ 4632

Taxi accident

NZ 4536 NZ 4581

Engine Failure

NZ 4519 NZ 4520 NZ 4524 NZ 4529 NZ 4530
NZ 4561

Instructional Non Flying Airframe

NZ 4502 NZ4596

Missing / Ditched / Flying Error

NZ 4544 NZ 4556 NZ 4567 NZ 4570 NZ 4573
NZ 4575 NZ 4578 NZ 4613 NZ 4614 NZ 4623
NZ 4624

Scrapped

NZ 4503 NZ 4507 NZ 4509 NZ 4516 NZ 4521
NZ 4523 NZ 4525 NZ 4527 NZ 4528 NZ 4531
NZ 4532 NZ 4534 NZ 4535 NZ 4537 NZ 4539
NZ 4541 NZ 4542 NZ 4543 NZ 4548 NZ 4549
NZ 4551 NZ 4552 NZ 4553 NZ 4554 NZ 4557

NZ 4558 NZ 4559 NZ 4560 NZ 4565 NZ 4566
NZ 4568 NZ 4569 NZ 4572 NZ 4576 NZ 4577
NZ 4579 NZ 4582 NZ 4583 NZ 4584 NZ 4585
NZ 4586 NZ 4587 NZ 4588 NZ 4589 NZ 4590
NZ 4591 NZ 4592 NZ 4593 NZ 4594 NZ 4595

NZ 4597 NZ 4598 NZ 4599 NZ 4600 NZ 4601
NZ 4602 NZ 4603 NZ 4604 NZ 4605 NZ 4606
NZ 4608 NZ 4711 NZ 4615 NZ 4622 NZ 4625
NZ 4626 NZ 4627 NZ 4629 NZ 4633 NZ 4635
NZ 4636 NZ 4637 NZ 4639

No Disposal Records

NZ 4504 NZ 4505 NZ 4506 NZ 4510 NZ 4511
NZ 4512 NZ 4513 NZ 4514 NZ 4515 NZ 4555
NZ 4631

Written Off

NZ 4563 NZ 4574 NZ 4610 NZ 4612 NZ 4616
NZ 4617 NZ 4620 NZ 4621 NZ 4628 NZ 4630

Part1](/history/@len.george/lockheed-ventura-pv1-and-b34-nz-4501-to-nz-4550-1943-to-1948-part-1)

Part2

Unsourced photos through the Ohakea Museum

with thanks to son-of-satire for the banner