SBD-5 Dauntless flying over USS Enterprise (CV-6) enroute to Emirau 1944
SBD Dauntless of the VB-6 crashes on USS Enterprise 1942
SBD-2 white 6 BuNo 2106 at Midway in June 1942
SBD code B-11 during Battle of Midway
SBD-2 Dauntless white 6 BuNo 2106 at Midway with over 200 holes in it
SBD-5 white 10, 15, 25 of the VB-9 USS Essex during raid on Tarawa 1943
SBD-5s white 21, 8 of the VB-10 pass over USS Enterprise prior to recovery aboard the carrier following strikes against Palau
SBD-3 at Safi Morocco during Operation Torch in November 1942
SBDs S12, S11 scout bombers en route to Rekata Bay
SBD-5 from VB-10 fly in formation near their carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) 1944
SBD-5 from USS Lexington (CV-16) flies over inavsion craft off Saipan
SBD 1943
SBD May 6, 1942
SBD Dauntless landing on aircraft carrier during Battle of Midway
SBD on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) – April 1942
SBD Dauntless on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3) in late 1941
USMC pilot Charles Fink of VMSB-244 after 55th combat mission
Damaged SBD-3 white 15 of the VMSB-132, February 1943
SBD Dauntless of the VB-41 on the flight deck of USS Ranger (CV-4)
Capt. John F. Adams of VMSB-231 on the wing of his SBD, color photo
USAAC ground crew talking to pilot on a A-24, October 1941
SBD crash lands on deck of US carrier
SBD-3 B15 of VB-6 aboard USS Enterprise
SBD lands on USS Lexington (CV-16) during the Marshalls and Gilberts Operation in November 1943
SBD Dauntless over Segi Point New Georgia
Crashed SBD 1943
SBD prepares to takeoff from aircraft carrier USS Santee (CVE-29)
Lt. James K. Brothers of VB-9 inspects damage to his SBD-5 after returning safely to the aircraft carrier USS Essex (CV-9) following raid on Tarawa 1943
SBD-4 Dauntless in flight on March 6, 1943
SBD-3 B15 of the VB-6 unable to reach the carrier USS Enterprise on the deck of Yorktown CV-5
RNZAF SBD-5 Dauntless NZ5049 on Rabaul Mission 1944
Crewmen aid SBD landing on carrier
Marine SBD white 182 and 178 over Rabaul April 1944
Victory marking being added under the windscreen of SBD-3 Dauntless aboard USS Wasp, 28 August 1942
A-24A Banshee #2110 pulling target for AA practice at Camp Davis 2
Marine SBD white 105 in Solomon Islands 1943
SBD black 15 and sailors duck walk for exercise aboard carrier
SBD Dauntless coded R38 during training – color photo
SBD R32 during training – color photo
SBD of VB-4 landing on aircraft carrier USS Ranger 1942
SBD-3 aboard USS Ranger (CV-4) during Operation Torch
Marine radio gunner Richard Payne by SBD ’43
SBD-3 Dauntless of VB-3 ditching near USS Astoria, Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942
SBD on anti submarine patrol over Pacific ’42
SBD Dauntless of VB-6 USS Enterprise during Marcus Island raid, 4 March 1942
Marines sleeping under wings of SBD on Bougainville
SBD from VS-5 USS Yorktown during Battle of Midway, 4 June 1942
SBD-5 Dauntless aboard USS Yorktown (CV-10) November 1943
SBD-5 white 9 prepare to take off from aircraft carrier
SBD Dauntless on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) on 3 May 1942
A-24 Banshee August 1941
Loading a 1000 pound GP bomb on a SBD-5
SBD Dauntless on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier – Gilbert Islands Campaign 1943
A-24B Banshee serial 42-54459 of the 531st FBS, Makin atoll
SBD gunner John Liska
SBD, F6F and TBF on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier 1943 – color photo
SBD-5 Dauntless of the VB-16 on USS Lexington (CV-16), September 1943
SBD-5 of the VS-37 over Atlantic
A-24 Banshee and Jeep, 1941
A-24A Banshee 42-60881 pulling target for AA practice at Camp Davis
SBD 41-S-3 of VS-41 USS Ranger , during Operation Torch 1942
Factory new SBD-5 July 1943
Bombers on the flight deck, during operations in the Coral Sea
SBD Dauntless #16 aboard USS Ranger during operation Torch
SBD-3 ground crew loading 12,7 mm ammo
SBD-5 white 6 and 18, Palau Islands March 1944
SBD on flightdeck of USS Hornet, July 1942
SBD-5 from VB-16 off the carrier Lexington CV-16 fly low over Japanese installations on Param Island Truk Atoll on April 29 1944
Formation of SBD in flight on 9 November 1942
SBD Dauntless during flight operations on the light carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23), 21 June 1943
SBD-5 of the VB-10 (USS Enterprise) during a mission against Palau March 1944
SBD Dauntless black 22-C-19 of VC-22 aboard USS Independence (CVL-22), 30 April 1943
Dive bombers overhead Eniwetok Atoll during combat operations in February 1944
SBD-3 Dauntless of the VGS-29 on the forward part of the flight deck of the carrier USS Santee (ACV-29) on December 27, 1942
SBD-3 41-S-16 of the VS-41 traps on board the carrier USS Ranger (CV-4), 15 October 1942
Marine SBD Dauntless taxi on the runway at Bougainville 1944
SBD-5 white 2 of the VB-5 makes a belly landing on the flight deck of the carrier Yorktown (CV-10) after strike against Truk Atoll on February 22, 1944
SBD-4 Dauntless assembly line at the Douglas Aircraft Company plant at El Segundo February 4 1943
SBD black 22-C-17 of VC-22 aboard USS Independence (CVL-22), 30 April 1943
SBD-5 Dauntless of the VMSB-231 at Majuro prior to launching for an attack against Japanese installations on Mille Atoll in 22 August 1944
SBD formation during a training flight in December 1943
Douglas SBD Dauntless in flight over an escort carrier during Operation Torch
SBD-5 M23 makes a low pass over the flight deck of the carrier Lexington CV-16 to make a message drop on April 16, 1944
SBD-5 Dauntless of the VC-40 at Piva Uncle Airstrip Torokina prior to taking off on strike against Talili Bay Rabaul on 6 April 1944
Ordnancemen load a bomb onto an SBD Dauntless of the VS-6 on board the carrier USS Enterprise invasions of Guadalcanal and Tulagi on August 7, 1942
SBD of the VS-6 in flight 17 October 1941
SBD of VS-5 USS Enterprise taking-off for an early morning attack against Tulagi 7 August 1942
SBD-5 Dauntless white 14 of the VMSB-231
SBD-4 white 10 of the VS-64 over New Georgia – 27 December 1943
SBD and A-24 Banshee at the Douglas Aircraft Companys El Segundo plant on March 16, 1943
SBD-5 Dauntless of the VB-16 flies an antisubmarine patrol low over the USS Washington (BB-56) en route to the invasion of the Gilbert Islands on November 12, 1943
SBD of the Air Group 12 (USS Saratoga) during attack on Rabaul 5 November 1943
SBD-4 of the VB-41 and 42 on board the carrier USS Ranger (CV-4) during operations in the Atlantic
SBD-5 Dauntless of VB-16 flies over ships of the invasion force to strike Japanese installations ashore on D-Day for the invasion of Saipan on June 15, 1944
SBD and TBF from USS Cabot CVL-28 in flight on 2 October 1943
Strike photograph taken from an SBD – Tenamgogo Island, Gavutu Island is in the background and Florida Islands is in the distance. 4 August 1942
SBD-5 Dauntless of VB-16 ready for launch on the flight deck of the carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) invasion of Saipan 15 June 1944
Marine SBD white 301 over Luzon Philippines
Marine SBD-5 during bombing mission against Japanese targets on Rabaul 22 April 1944
Marine SBD Dauntless white 106 leaves Henderson Field on Guadalcanal for Munda raid
SBD-2 code 6-S-14 of the VS-6 over USS Enterprise – 1941
SBD-4 Dauntless in flight
SBD-3 of the VB-6 aboard USS Enterprise CV-6 during Wake Island Raid, 24 February 1942
War weary SBD Dauntless of VMSB-233 in the boneyard at Henderson Field on Guadalcanal
Brand new SBD-3 Dauntless ready for delivery – MArch 1942
SBD-3 of VB-5 aboard USS Yorktown, North Atlantic
SBD-3 Dauntless of the VB-6 during Wake Island Raid, 24 February 1942 2
Marine SBD leave Henderson Field for raid on Kolombangara 1943
British Dauntless Mk I serial JS997
Dive bomber SBD-3 white 38
SBD of VB-10 over USS Enterprise Enroute to Palau Raid 1944
SBD-5 white 36 of the VB-10 March 1944
SBD-5 white 5 over Turtle Bay, Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu February 1944
Former college football star Lt Robert Barnett in gunner’s Seat of SBD – 1944
SBD-5 Dauntless White 119 named “Push Push” of VMSB-144, flown by Major Frank E, Hollar, supporting the landings at Empress Augusta Bay on Bougainville
Major Harry William Reed and Major John Stanley Flickinger commanding and executive officers of VMSB-244, studying a map before takeoff, 1944
SBD-3 Dauntless with dive flaps extended
SBD of the VB-10 from USS Enterprise enroute to Emirau
Marine SBD-1 coded 1-MB-1 of the VMB-1 assigned Io the Commanding Officer. El Segundo. 1940
SBD-3 on flight deck of USS Lexington (CV-2) 1942
Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless
SBD Dauntless was a World War II American naval dive bomber and scout plane that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft Company.
General Specifications
- Type: Two-seat Scout Bomber or Dive-Bomber (SBD-5).
Wings
- Configuration: Low-wing cantilever monoplane.
- Structure: Rectangular center-section with tapering outer sections and detachable wing-tips. Made of duralumin multi-cellular structure with flush-riveted stressed-skin covering.
- Control Surfaces: Metal-framed ailerons with fabric covering, and a trim-tab in the port aileron. Slots in the wings are located ahead of the ailerons.
- Dive Brakes: Hydraulically-operated perforated metal dive-brakes are located above and below the trailing-edges of the outer wings and below the trailing-edge of the center-section beneath the fuselage.
Fuselage
- Construction: Oval duralumin monocoque structure. The fuselage is split longitudinally for manufacture, with the upper half in one piece and the lower half in three pieces, plus a tail cone. The forward lower section includes a built-in center-section.
- Structure: Built up of channel-section transverse frames, extruded stringers, and 24ST Alclad skin. The rear fuselage has solid bulkheads dividing it into watertight compartments.
Tail Unit
- Type: Cantilever monoplane type with an all-metal tailplane featuring stressed-skin covering.
- Control Surfaces: Rudder and elevators have metal frames with fabric covering. Trimming-tabs are present in the movable surfaces.
Landing Gear
- Type: Retractable type with hydraulic retraction and emergency hand-operated mechanical gear.
- Mechanism: The cantilever oleo shock absorber legs hinge at the extremities of the center-section, retracting inward to recess into wells under the center-section.
- Tail Wheel: Solid-tyre tail-wheel, either locked or free-swiveling. A deck-landing hook is present under the rear fuselage.
Power Plant
- Engine: One Wright R-1820-66 Cyclone nine-cylinder radial air-cooled engine, rated at 1,200 h.p. at 5,500 ft. and 900 h.p. at 16,640 ft., with 1,350 h.p. available for takeoff.
- Propeller: Hamilton-Standard Hydromatic full-feathering propeller with a diameter of 10 ft. 3 in. (3.3 m).
- Fuel Capacity: Total capacity of 284 U.S. gallons, with fuel tanks located in the center-section and roots of the outer wings. Oil tank with a capacity of 15.5 U.S. gallons in the engine compartment, including an oil cooler with a controllable air scoop.
Accommodation
- Cockpits: Tandem cockpits under a continuous transparent canopy, with the pilot’s cockpit forward and the gunner’s cockpit aft. Armor protection is provided for the crew.
- Equipment: Duplicate flight controls, Sperry automatic pilot, full radio equipment, automatically inflatable two-seat dinghy, oxygen system, and 24-volt electrical system.
Armament
- Forward Armament: Two 0.50 in. Browning machine-guns in the fuselage firing through the propeller arc.
- Rear Armament: Two 0.30 in. machine-guns on a flexible mounting in the rear cockpit.
- Bomb Load: A swinging bomb cradle beneath the fuselage and bomb racks under the outer wing sections. Standard loads include one 1,000 lb. bomb under the fuselage and two 100 lb. bombs under the wings. For scout-bombing missions, one 500 lb. and two 100 lb. bombs can be carried. Some versions are equipped for long-range photographic reconnaissance duties.
This aircraft is known for its durability and effectiveness in both dive-bombing and scouting roles, featuring advanced features for its time, including automatic pilot systems and good armor protection.
Specifications
variant | SBD-1 | SBD-2 |
|---|---|---|
crew | 2 | 2 |
wingspan (m) | 12,66 | 12,66 |
lenght (m) | 9,8 | 9,80 |
height (m) | 4,14 | 4,14 |
wing area (m2) | 30,19 | 30,19 |
empty weight (kg) | 2690 | 2564 |
gross weight (kg) | 3444 | 3920 |
max take-off weight (kg) | 4445 | 4699 |
wing loading (kg/m²) | 129,8 | |
engine | Wright R-1820-32 1000hp at 2350 rpm, 950 hp at 1525 m | Wright R-1820-32 1000hp |
propeller | ||
fuel (l) | 795 | 1173 |
engine oil (l) | 58,5 | 58,5 |
max speed (km/h) | 407 | 412 at 4875 m |
cruising speed (km/h) | 228 | 238 |
ceiling (m) | 9022 | 8310 |
range (km) | 1384 – 1875 | 1970 – 2220 |
rate of climb | 8,8 m/s | 5,5 m/s |
bombs (kg) | 1×454 + 2×45 | 1×454 + 2×45 |
armament | 2×12,7 mm (720 rounds), 1×7,62 mm (600 rounds) | 1×12,7 mm, 1×7,62 mm |
US Navy serials | 1596-1631; 1735-1755 | 2102 – 2188 |
variant | SBD-3 | SBD-4 |
|---|---|---|
crew | 2 | 2 |
wingspan (m) | 12,66 | 12,66 |
lenght (m) | 9,96 | 9,96 |
height (m) | 4,14 | 4,14 |
wing area (m2) | 30,19 | 30,19 |
empty weight (kg) | 2803 | 2885 |
gross weight (kg) | ||
max take-off weight (kg) | 4717 | 4717 |
wing loading (kg/m²) | ||
engine | Wright R-1820-52 1000hp | Wright R-1820-52 1000hp |
propeller | Hamilton Standard Hydromatic, 3-bladed 3,3 m | |
fuel (l) | 946 | 946 |
engine oil (l) | 58,5 | 58,5 |
max speed (km/h) | 402 | 402 |
cruising speed (km/h) | 245 | 245 |
ceiling (m) | 8260 | 8260 |
range (km) | 2165 | 2165 |
rate of climb | 6 m/s | 6 m/s |
bombs (kg) | 1×454 + 2×45 | 1×454 + 2×45 |
armament | 2×12,7 mm, 2×7,62 mm (2000 rounds) | 2×12,7 mm, 2×7,62 mm |
US Navy serials | 4518 – 4691; 03185-03384; 06492-06701; 2109 | 06702-06991; 10317-10806 |
USAAF serials | SBD-3A (A-24-DE): 41-15746 – 41-15823; 42-6682 – 42-6771 | SBD-4A (A-24A): 42-6772 – 42-6831; 42-60772 – 42-60881 |
RNZAF | NZ5001-5018 | NZ5019-5045 |
variant | SBD-5 | SBD-6 |
|---|---|---|
crew | 2 | 2 |
wingspan (m) | 12,66 | 12,66 |
lenght (m) | 10,06 | 10,06 |
height (m) | 4,14 | 4,14 |
wing area (m2) | 30,19 | 30,19 |
empty weight (kg) | 2905 | 2973 |
gross weight (kg) | 4245 | 4293 |
max take-off weight (kg) | 4853 | 4937 |
wing loading (kg/m²) | 140,6 | 142,2 |
engine | Wright R-1820-60 1200hp | Wright R-1820-66 1350hp at 0 m at 2700 rpm, 1100 hp at 3500 m |
propeller | Hamilton Standard Hydromatic, 3-bladed 3,3 m | Hamilton Standard Hydromatic, 3-bladed 3,3 m |
fuel (l) | 946 + 2×219 | 1075 |
engine oil (l) | 58,5 | 58,5 |
max speed (km/h) | 406 at 4265 m | 422 at 5640 m |
cruising speed (km/h) | 298 | 298 |
ceiling (m) | 7780 | 7780 |
range (km) | 1795 – 2520 | 1980 – 2735 |
rate of climb | 8,6 m/s | 8,6 m/s |
bombs (kg) | 1×454 or 716 + 2×147 | 1×454 or 716 + 2×147 |
armament | 2×12,7 mm, 2×7,62 mm | 2×12,7 mm, 2×7,62 mm |
US Navy serials | 10807-11066; 28059-28829; 28831-29213; 35922-35949; 35951-36421; 36433-36932; 54050-54599 | 54600-55049 |
USAAF serials | 42-60882 – 42-60941 transferred to USMC as SBD-5A 09693 – 09752 | |
RNZAF | NZ5046-5068 | |
RAF | JS997-999; JT923-928 |
variant | A-24B |
|---|---|
crew | 2 |
wingspan (m) | 12,66 |
lenght (m) | 10,06 |
height (m) | 4,14 |
wing area (m2) | 30,19 |
empty weight (kg) | 2871 |
gross weight (kg) | |
max take-off weight (kg) | 4850 |
wing loading (kg/m²) | |
engine | Wright R-1820-60 1200hp |
propeller | Hamilton Standard Hydromatic, 3-bladed 3,3 m |
fuel (l) | |
engine oil (l) | 58,5 |
max speed (km/h) | 410 |
cruising speed (km/h) | 298 |
ceiling (m) | 7780 |
range (km) | 2520 |
rate of climb | 8,6 m/s |
bombs (kg) | 1×454 or 716 + 2×147 |
armament | 2×12,7 mm, 2×7,62 mm |
USAAF serials | 42-54285 – 42-54899 |
Bibliography
- Krzysztof Janowicz, Andre R Zbiegniewski: Douglas SBD Dauntless, Kagero Monographs 34
- Robert C. Stern: SBD Dauntless in Action, Squadron Signal 64
- Richard S. Dann: SBD Dauntless, Walk Around Squadron Signal 33
- Jacek Nowicki: Douglas TBD Devastator, SBD Dauntless, Wydawnictwo Militaria 119 (Polish/English)
- SBD Dauntless, SB2C Helldiver – Famous Airplanes of the World 40 (japan)
- Bert Kinzey: SBD Dauntless in detail & scale 48, Squadron/Signal Publications
- Peter C. Smith: Douglas SBD Dauntless, Crowood Press
- Barrett Tillman, Tom Tullis: SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2 – Osprey Combat Aircraft 10
- Douglas Aircraft Co.: Pilot’s Handbook Model SBD-3
- David Brazelton: The Douglas SBD Dauntless, Aircraft Profile Number 196
- U.S. Navy Carrier Bombers of WWII: TBD Devastator SBD Dauntless SB2C Helldiver TBF/TBM Avenger Squadron/Signal Publications 6205, Aerodata International
- Robert Pęczkowski, Artur Juszczak: Douglas SBD Dauntless Mushroom Yellow Series 6123
- David Doyle: SBD Dauntless in action, Squadron/Signal Publications 10236
- Barrett Tillman: The SBD Dauntless: History’s Most-Effective Dive-Bomber
- R. Johnson – American Attack Aircraft Since 1926
- John M. Elliott – The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2: 1940-1949
- Thomas E. Doll – US Navy Aircraft Camouflage & Markings 1940-1945, Squadron/Signal Publications 6087
- Thomas E. Doll, Barkley R. Jackson: Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1, 1911-1945 – Squadron/Signal Publications 6159
- Craig L. Symonds – The Battle of Midway
- Charles River Editors – The Battle of the Coral Sea: The History and Legacy of World War II’s First Major Battle Between Aircraft Carriers
- Jonathan Parshall, Anthony Tully – Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
- Stephen L. Moore – Pacific Payback: The Carrier Aviators Who Avenged Pearl Harbor at the Battle of Midway
- Rene J. Francillon – McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920: Volume 1