Aircraft History
Built by Lockheed in Burbank, CA. Model 237-27-01. Constructors Number 4909. Delivered to the U. S. Navy (USN) as PV-1 Ventura bureau number 48906. Shipped overseas to Australia as part of lend lease.

Wartime History
On March 13, 1944 delivered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Ventura serial number A59-73. Assigned to No. 13 Squadron. No known nickname or nose art. This Ventura was abandoned at Gove Airfield.

Wreckage
The fuselage of this Ventura was located at the Gove Airfield, but was shipped to RAAF Base Darwin for restoration before being returned to Gove.

Today
As of 2014, the fuselage from this aircraft is located at the Gove (Nhulunbuy) Airfield near Boomerang A46-173.

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - PV-1 Ventura 48906
"48906 to RAAF as A59-73. DBF Gore airstrip, NT Aug 6, 1945. Recovered 1988 for restoration by 13 Sqdn RAAF but dertermined to be beyond restoration. Reurned to Grove for display Oct 12"
RAAF Aircraft Status Card - Ventura A59-73
ADF Serials - Ventura A59-73 constructors number incorrectly listed as 237-6142
Thanks to Greg Williams and Daniel Leahy for their assistance with this profile

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Last Updated
January 31, 2018