Carey, Alan C. PV Ventura/Harpoon Units of World War 2.Carey, Alan C. PV Ventura/Harpoon Units of World War 2. Osprey osprey (ŏs`prē), common name for a bird of prey related to the hawk and the New World vulture and found near water in most parts of the world. Publishing, Elms Court, Chapel Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9LP, UK. 2002.96 pp. Ill. $18.95. The Lockheed Ventura The Lockheed Ventura was a bomber and patrol aircraft of World War II, used by United States and British Commonwealth forces in several guises. It was developed from the Lockheed Lodestar transport, as a replacement for the Lockheed Hudson bombers then in service with the Royal and PV Harpoon harpoon (härp  n`), weapon used for spearing whales and large fish. The early type was a flat triangular piece of metal with barbed edges and a socket for attaching a wooden handle, to the medium bombers were a somewhat shadowy family of combat aircraft derived from a prewar pre·war adj. Existing or occurring before a war. prewar Adjective relating to the period before a war, esp. before World War I or II Adj. 1. airliner that first saw fame as a record-breaker flown by millionaire industrialist Howard Hughes. Originally sent to the British as the A-29 Hudson, the design was then modified with more powerful engines and different armament suites, arriving in the UK as the Ventura I. The type's service with allied air forces was disappointing, and although it flew with some 30 U.S. Navy squadrons and one Marine Corps unit, the aircraft has been relegated to no more than occasional footnote mention in overall histories. This latest addition to Osprey's Combat Aircraft series is welcome. The reader will find encapsulated histories of Navy and allied squadrons, as well as an expanded description of the PV's night-fighter service with the Marines during which its crews scored 12 kills in the Pacific during an eight-month tour. Harpoon aircrews saw a surprising amount of action against the Japanese from the Aleutians to the Philippines, and more than a few men were lost or wounded flying Lockheed's ponderous pon·der·ous adj. 1. Having great weight. 2. Unwieldy from weight or bulk. 3. Lacking grace or fluency; labored and dull: a ponderous speech. See Synonyms at heavy. , yet well-proportioned twin-engine bomber. PV crews also accounted for several kills against German submarines. The book follows the series' established format, and includes a folio of 30 color profiles as well as general arrangement line drawings. The profiles are supplemented by descriptive paragraphs detailing the individual aircraft's record and special action seen by its crew. Taking advantage of several alumni groups and personal photo collections, the author has also assembled a fine selection of photographs. By Cdr. Peter B. Mersky, USNR USNR abbr. United States Naval Reserve (Ret.) |
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