RNZAF PV-1 Photo Reconnaissance Question

[alanw]

Hi All,

Question for our Technical Experts?

This question was raised on Britmodeller this morning.

www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235045814-rafrcafrnzafraaf-use-of-pv-1-venturas-for-photo-reconnaissance/

While I am quite certain our RNZAF PV-1's did carry out Photo Recon Duties
in the SW Pacific, is there any information regarding the camera configuration(s)?

I'm pretty sure with the large rectangular transparency under the nose, this
would have been one of the mounting points for camera(s), and the lower stern
windows, possible other mounting points?

Personally from a technical perspective, I would be interested to know too.

Look forward to any advice/comments

Thanks/regards

Alan

[Mustang51]

Dont know about the PV-1s but the Temora Hudson was fitted with an F.24 camera in the rear fuselage (port side) when it served with the Survey Flight.

[tbf25o4]

on the final tour of the SWPA area by 3 Squadron Jasnuary - May 1945 a PV1 was fitted with survey cameras (probably F24 and the american equivalent) and flown by Pilot Officer Parker and crew carried out extensive photographic surveys of most of Bouganiville, Rabaul and Jacquinot Bay. The success of these missions was recognised by a commendation to the crew by COMZEAIRTAF.

[Dave Homewood]

This is the type of camera that Air Gunner Bill Edhouse used to use in the PV-1 when he was with No. 1 (BR) Squadron. He told me he would sometimes use it handheld and just point it out the window but it obviously came with mounts too as seen. This is from Bill's personal collection but I assume it was RNZAF Official at the time and so likely Air Force Museum of New Zealand copyright.

[davidd]

PV-1s were provided with positions for oblique photography as well as vertical, but oblique was used possibly to a greater extent on low level work (obviously!) There were two ports for the obliques in the rear fuselage, port and starboard. Not certain of position for verticals, but it could well have been in the bow (nose) compartment, through the flat bombing window, as already postulated.
David D

[davidd]

PV-1s were provided with positions for oblique photography as well as vertical, but oblique shots were used possibly to a greater extent on low level work (obviously!) There were two ports for the obliques in the rear fuselage, port and starboard. Not certain of position for verticals, but it could well have been in the bow (nose) compartment, through the flat bombing window, as already postulated.
David D

[alanw]

Hi Gents,

Thanks again for the awesome replies

I'm picking that the B 34's didn't carry out
Photo recon in the forward areas, but may have/did
do so around New Zealand?

Thanks again

Alan

[davidd]

Cannot state for certain, but I doubt that any B-34s were used for photography work around NZ. Used almost entirely for working up new squadrons in NZ (and briefly in Fiji), and were not flown at all for a six month period in 1944, approx. April to October.
David D

[Dave Homewood]

It is possible the crews in the B-34's did use cameras because Bill certainly used his camera when flying from Whenuapai to practice with it.

The B-34's were never in the forward area Alan. Fiji was as far north as they got, and I'd be almost certain they were fitted with cameras there patrolling with No. 4 (GR) Squadron, as part of the General Reconnaissance role was to photograph shipping.

[tbf25o4]

Aerial surveys in New Zealand during the war years were carried out primarily by Piet Van Asch in beechcraft ZK-AHO which was purchased by the NZ Government for his company, who were then
contracted to the government for survey work.

[Dave Homewood]

The General Reconnaissance squadrons also carried out a lot of aerial survey and photography work in their Baffins and Vincents in the early years of the war, for example after flooding to survey the damage, etc.

But Alan's question was about photo reconnaissance rather than aerial surveying, as such.

[emron]

Nov 4, 2018 9:18:49 GMT 12 davidd said:

Cannot state for certain, but I doubt that any B-34s were used for photography work around NZ. Used almost entirely for working up new squadrons in NZ (and briefly in Fiji), and were not flown at all for a six month period in 1944, approx. April to October.
David D

I know of at least one camera size hatch under the floor of the rear compartment aft of the bomb bay on B-34 NZ4600.
The Ventura's got a load of spares stowed in and around it at present so not easy to access for more detail. If I have time I'll check out the manual next weekend to see if it differed from the PV-1 in that area.

[hamsterman]

Nov 2, 2018 8:35:03 GMT 12 tbf25o4 said:

on the final tour of the SWPA area by 3 Squadron Jasnuary - May 1945 a PV1 was fitted with survey cameras (probably F24 and the american equivalent) and flown by Pilot Officer Parker and crew carried out extensive photographic surveys of most of Bouganiville, Rabaul and Jacquinot Bay. The success of these missions was recognised by a commendation to the crew by COMZEAIRTAF.

Hi all,

Where could I find more information about this particular photo survey performed by 3 Squadron?  Is it known which PV-1 was used and the identities of Parker's crew?

Thanks.

Chris

[tbf25o4]

Coverage of these flights is in my book "SEEK AND DESTROY" the history of 3 squadron. My information was gleaned from reading the ORB's for 3 squadron held at National Archives Wellington

[hamsterman]

May 22, 2019 9:40:30 GMT 12 tbf25o4 said:

Coverage of these flights is in my book "SEEK AND DESTROY" the history of 3 squadron. My information was gleaned from reading the ORB's for 3 squadron held at National Archives Wellington

Ok, thanks.