Lockheed 137 B-34A Lexington

Lockheed 137 B-34A Lexington

Main menu

Larger image

Next McKillop photo
McKillop menu

01/22/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This aircraft was one of 487 Model 37-27-02 Ventura Mk. IIs ordered on a Lend-Lease contract for the RAF. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 found the USAAF short of aircraft and 264 of the 487 were delivered to the USAAF as B-34As but retained their RAF serial numbers. In October 1942, they were redesignated RB-34As, the “R” indicating the aircraft was restricted to non-combat missions.

Lockheed redesignated the aircraft delivered to the USAAF as Model 137-27-02. The 101 USAAF B-34As were:

     - 57 B-34A-2-VE bomber trainers
     - 28 B-34A-3-VE gunnery trainers
     - 16 B-34A-4-VE target tugs.

All Lockheed Ventura variants were manufactured at the wholly-owned subsidary, Vega Aircraft Corp., hence these aircraft are also known as Lockheed-Vega aircraft.

This photograph shows a B-34A-3-VE over Tyndall Field, Panama City, Florida, being "attacked" by an "enemy" fighter pilot in a North American AT-6 Texan. The gunnery student in the B-34 top turret must "shoot down" the "fighter" aircraft with a camera gun mounted in the turret. When the cross-hair on the film intersect on the plane, a hit is scored."


Main menu	Larger image	Next McKillop photo McKillop menu
01/22/2007. Remarks by Jack McKillop: "This aircraft was one of 487 Model 37-27-02 Ventura Mk. IIs ordered on a Lend-Lease contract for the RAF. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 found the USAAF short of aircraft and 264 of the 487 were delivered to the USAAF as B-34As but retained their RAF serial numbers. In October 1942, they were redesignated RB-34As, the “R” indicating the aircraft was restricted to non-combat missions. Lockheed redesignated the aircraft delivered to the USAAF as Model 137-27-02. The 101 USAAF B-34As were: - 57 B-34A-2-VE bomber trainers - 28 B-34A-3-VE gunnery trainers - 16 B-34A-4-VE target tugs. All Lockheed Ventura variants were manufactured at the wholly-owned subsidary, Vega Aircraft Corp., hence these aircraft are also known as Lockheed-Vega aircraft. This photograph shows a B-34A-3-VE over Tyndall Field, Panama City, Florida, being "attacked" by an "enemy" fighter pilot in a North American AT-6 Texan. The gunnery student in the B-34 top turret must "shoot down" the "fighter" aircraft with a camera gun mounted in the turret. When the cross-hair on the film intersect on the plane, a hit is scored."