WW II USAAF Army Navy Aircraft – MAIN FUSELAGE DATA PLATE – PV-1 – VERY RARE!

You are bidding on an EXTREMELY RARE and 100% original WW2 US Navy Lockheed PV-1 “Ventura” Main Fuselage Data Plate, Serial Number 37-6xx! This was the main manufacture data plate located on the fuselage.

The Lockheed PV-1 Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II.  It 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. British Commonwealth forces also used it in several guises, including anti-shipping and antisubmarine search and attack. 

The Ventura was developed from the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar transport, as a replacement for the Lockheed Hudson bombers then in service with the Royal Air Force. Used in daylight attacks against occupied Europe, they proved to have weaknesses and were removed from bomber duty and some used for patrols by Coastal Command. 

After USAAF monopolization of land-based bombers was removed, the US Navy ordered a revised design which entered service as the PV-2 Harpoon for anti-submarine work.

Made of aluminum, this is an EXTREMELY RARE piece! It features 95% original paint, and all markings are very legible.  It indicates:

MANUFACTURED BY
LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT CORP.
BURBANK, CALIF.
SERIAL   37-6xx     MODEL   PV 1
DATE MFD
ENGINE     2SBG

The last images depict the exact type of aircraft this plate was removed from. A PERFECT addition to any collection, display, or restoration project!