The Lockheed Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II. 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 aircraft also served as a long-range bomber in the Aleutians and Central Pacific, and equipped the Marine Corps' first night fighter squadron. The enhanced PV-2 Harpoon entered service in...

Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon, U.S. Navy Bureau Number 37396, civil registration N7265C, named "Hot Stuff", is located at 3867 N. Aviation Way, Mount Comfort, Indiana. The aircraft, an intact example of a World War II anti-submarine patrol bomber, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 23, 2009.

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.

In early 1942, the U.S. Navy recognized the increasing vulnerability of its sea-plane patrol planes to enemy fighters. As a result, the Navy chose several land-based Army bombers to supplement its fleet of patrol aircraft. Among the planes chosen was the Lockheed Ventura.

During this time, the squadron aircraft were upgraded to the PV-2 Harpoon. The PV-2 Harpoon was a significant 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.

In June of 1943, the Navy ordered 500 planes under the designation PV-2, and the name Harpoon was assigned. Made for the reconnaissance role, the PV-2 included, two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-31 air-cooled radial engines rated at 2,000 …

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.

84062 was the third to the last PV-2 Harpoon built and appears to be the newest surviving Harpoon. Here is the information from her US Navy History card: PV-2D 84062 was accepted by the Navy on September 9th, 1945, and was delivered to …

The PV-2 Harpoon was a major redesign of the Ventura with the wing area increased from 51.2 m² to 63.7 m² giving an increased load-carrying capability.