The Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon: One of the rarest WW2 bombers

Upgunned Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar

It came recently to me that there was a WW2 aircraft I had never heard of: The Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon maritime patrol warbird. Sporting up to eight .50 cal machine guns, rockets, bombs and depth charges, this was not a harmless reconnaissance airplane. With over 3,000 built it certainly had numbers but remained aloof and secretive. Several German U-boats were destroyed by these mini gunships and countless hours flown over the entire world by many Allied nations. Developed from the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar, it was packed with weapons and put into frontline service along with 5 crewmen. There are only a few of these flying today and they are rare.

Brave men packed themselves into this cramped aircraft for many many hours doing their part to secure our freedom in a time when the world was on fire. Valor is in you. Set it free.