@ Vacaville, CA
June 2024
I saw this weathered but mechanically sound Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon parked off to the side at Nut Tree Airport. Apparently someone comes to run the engines occasionally. During World War II, the US Navy ordered a major redesign of the Lockheed PV-1 Ventura medium bomber for maritime patrol, resulting in the PV-2 Harpoon which entered service in 1943. Due to various technical issues, by the end of 1944 only 69 PV-2s had been delivered (including this example). With technical issues resolved, many Harpoons had long service careers with international militaries. The Portuguese Air Force saw combat with their Harpoons in the 1960’s. Of the 500 Harpoons built during WWII, there are only three flying survivors in the U.S.
