The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Designated PV-1 by the United States Navy (US Navy), it entered combat in 1943 in the Pacific. The bomber was also used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), which designated it the Lockheed B-34 (Lexington) and B-37 as a trainer.

SP-2H of VP-56 over the Atlantic. The Lockheed P-2 Neptune (designated P2V by the United States Navy prior to September 1962) is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft. It was developed for the US Navy by Lockheed to replace the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura and PV-2 Harpoon, and was replaced in turn by the Lockheed P-3 Orion.

Originally used by the Royal Air Force, Lockheed's PV-1 Ventura patrol bomber was employed by the Navy as an anti-submarine patrol aircraft in the Atlantic during World War II, sinking or...

In June 1943, the Navy ordered a long-range, slightly-redesigned version, and this version became the PV-2 Harpoon. At least 2,100 navalized Venturas and Harpoons were delivered before the end of the war, and the total number of deliveries to all customers exceeded 3,000.

The second rank, "private (E-2)" or PV2, wears a single chevron, known colloquially as "mosquito wings". In pay tables, the rank is listed as "private second class." [11] Advancement to PV2 is automatic after six months' time in service

Private (PV2) is the second-lowest paygrade in the Army's ranking hierarchy, directly above Private (PVT), or recruit. A Private (PV2) wears a rank insignia of a single chevron, an inverted yellow V, unlike a Private (PVT) who wears no rank insignia.

The PV-1 Ventura, built by the Vega Aircraft Company division of Lockheed (hence the ‘V’ Navy manufacturer’s letter that later replaced the ‘O’ for Lockheed), was a version of the Ventura built for the U.S. Navy.

Re-designated the PV-2 Harpoon, the aircraft continued service through the remainder of the Second World War. The museum’s PV-2 Harpoon Bureau Number 37216 was delivered to the US Navy in 1944. The aircraft was donated to the museum by Mr. Tony Ray Rocha. SPECIFICATIONS: Crew: four. Length: 52 ft. Wingspan: 74 ft 11 in. Height: 11 ft 11 in.

The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the Ventura with the wing area increased from 551 ft² (51.2 m²) to 686 ft² (63.7 m²) giving an increased load-carrying capability, and which first flew on 3 December 1943.

PV2 Rank Description: The PV2 rank is a step up from Private (paygrade E-1) but is still addressed as Private (not Private Second Class). Completing the Delayed Entry Program (recently renamed Future Soldiers Program) can allow a soldier to start their military service with this rank, bypassing Private E-1.