Yes I was aware that the Ventura was rated poorly by crews in Europe. The book Ventura Couragious about Len Trent spells out how much disappointment there was when 487 Sqn RNZAF were given them instead of the Bostons they hoped for, and how poorly they performed. But they were earlier models than those used by the RNZAF in the Pacific, and after some teething troubles with training over use of fuel tanks, they proved to perform very well. And they were suited to multiple roles, hence the use as a fighter.

As tbyguy says, the Ventura and the PV-2 Harpoon are two different airc4aft. The RNZAF was to re-equip it’s bomber reconnaissance fleet with the PV-2 but as the war was ending the orders were cancelled after the arrival of the first four.

Thanks for that link tbyguy