|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 23, 2008 14:19:59 GMT 12
I have noticed that Venturas have a circular window about 150cm aft of the entry door on the port side and about a foot in circumference. Most of our RNZAF Venturas had this window painted over with the blue or white paint of the fuselage and so they are not normally noticeable, but a few I've seen have the window unpainted. Does anyone know what the purpose of this low down window was, and why it was seemingly not required on most Venturas? You can see it clearly on the last photo of Pete Mossong's page here rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/ven1.html |
|
|
|
Post by trx850 on Feb 20, 2009 20:50:56 GMT 12
Hi Dave. This is my first visit to the forum for a while as I've been very busy with work and other projects!
I have just spotted your query on the 'window' showing in the photo.
It is the vestigial remains of what were originally designed as gun ports in the fuselage sides of the early Ventura's, and these were soon plated over, and then eventually eliminated from later production aircraft.
Many photos of B-34's and B/RB-37's show them, and the Squadron /Signal In Action for the PV-1 has several good photos showing these.
Unfortunately, I can't find my copy at present (most probably in one of my Koster kit boxes out in the shed, so I can't scan and post them!
I'll have a dig around over the weekend, and see what I can come up with.
Cheers,
Pete M.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 20, 2009 20:59:11 GMT 12
Thanks Pete. It's good to see you back. Thank you for clearing that up, it's been one of those nagging things that strikes me sometimes when looking through photos of the Venturas.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 20, 2009 22:39:25 GMT 12
Thanks Marcus.
|
|
|
|
Post by trx850 on Feb 22, 2009 10:07:45 GMT 12
Hi guys. Further to my answer, I have dug through my files and found the Paul Matt PV-1 drawings. (scan attached)  There are no starboard plans in this set, to show the small square window on that side! On the PV-1, the port rear window was used by USN aircraft as an oblique camera port, and there was another just below it on the fuselage underside used for a vertical camera port. Obviously not required by the RNZAF! Cheers, Pete M. |
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Feb 22, 2009 12:58:28 GMT 12
Hi Pete,
Yeah, that's the hole I was meaning. Thanks
|
|
