United States' Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber

Photos

Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless dive bomber:
Douglas SBD-2s and SBD-3s Dauntless dive bombers:
Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers:	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers during Operation Torch:
Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers:	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook	Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook
Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers:	Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers at the Battle of Midway:	Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers from the USS Yorktown:
Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless dive bombers:
Douglas SBD-7a Dauntless dive bomber:
Douglas SBD-9 Dauntless dive bomber:
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers:
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber landing:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers:
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber gunners:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers during Operation Torch:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber over Wake Island in 1943:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber on the USS Ranger:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:
Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:	Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber:

Design

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was designed by Jack Northrop and Ed Heinemann.¹

The Dauntless started out as the Northrop BT-1 that had a fixed undercarriage.³ (Northrop became a subsidiary of Douglas.)⁵ It then evolved into the BT-2 that had a retractable undercarriage.³ This became the redesigned XBT-2.³

There was a telescopic bombsight that went through the windshield but would sometimes fog up during the dive.¹

The bomb was swung forward by a cradle that kept the bomb clear of the propeller.¹

The dive brakes had large holes and were named "Swiss cheese".¹

The radio operator sat in the rear of the cockpit and once entered a combat area the rear canopy was stored in the fuselage and gave the gunner a large field of fire.¹

Prototype

The first test flight was on April 22, 1938.¹

Production

In April 1939 57 SBD-1s, for the United States Marine Corps, and 87 SBD-2s, for the United States Navy, were ordered.^2,5

Army Air Corps Interest

In 1940 the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) became interested in the SBD after seeing the success of the Junkers Ju 87 Stuka.^3,5 It ordered denavalized A-24, A-24A, and A-24B.^3,5

• Douglas SBD-1: 57³
• Douglas SBD-2: 87³
• Douglas SBD-3: 584^3,5
• Douglas SBD-4: 780^2,3,5
  • Produced at El Segundo, California.²
• Douglas SBD-5: 2,409^2,5, 3,025³
  • Produced at Tulsa, Oklahoma.²
• Douglas SBD-6: 451^2,3
• Douglas A-24: 168³
• Douglas A-24A: 170^2,3,5
• Douglas A-24B: 615^2,3
• Total: 5,321², 5,936⁵, 5,937³
  • Production: ? - July 1944⁵

The last SBD-6 was produced on July 22, 1944.¹

Variants

• Douglas BT-1: Prototype.³
• Douglas BT-2: Prototype.³
• Douglas XBT-2: Prototype.³
• Douglas SBD-1: Initial version for the Marines.³
• Douglas SBD-1P: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3
• Douglas SBD-2: Initial version for the United States Navy.³ Had additional armament and fuel.³
• Douglas SBD-2P: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3
• Douglas SBD-3: Added two 12.7 mm machine guns in nose and self sealing fuel tanks.² Added armor, self sealing fuel tanks, and heavier guns in the nose.^3,5 First appeared in March 1941.⁵
• Douglas SBD-3P: Photo reconnaissance.^2,3
• Douglas SBD-4: Had 24 volt system.^2,3,5
• Douglas SBD-5: Had 1,200 HP engine.⁵
• Douglas SBD-6: Had 1,350 HP engine.⁵
• Douglas A-24: US Army version of the SBD-3.^1,3,5 Had naval equipment removed.⁵ Was used on Java with little success.¹ Used for training.¹ 168 SBD-3As were delivered the Army.²
• Douglas A-24A: US Army version of the SBD-4.^3,5
• Douglas A-24B: US Army version of the SBD-5.^3,5

Usage

Britain³, France^3,5, Mexico^3,5, New Zealand^3,5, and the United States^3,5 used the SBD Dauntless.

The Dauntless entered service in late 1940.^3,5

The dive attack usually occurred from 15,000' - 20,000' / 4,500 m - 6,000 m and reached 70°.¹

The famous saying "Scratch one flat-top" was said by Pilot Lieutenant Robert Dixon in his attack in a SBD Dauntless on the carrier Shoho.¹

The SBD sank more ships in the Pacific than any other plane.^1,2

Scouting Missions

Typically if 18 scouts were launched, pairs would search out 200 miles and then turn 20 - 50 miles when they would then fly to where the carrier was supposed to be.⁴

Pearl Harbor

By the time of Pearl Harbor 584 SBD-3s had been delivered.² They equipped the Enterprise, Lexington, Saratoga, and Yorktown.⁵

Midway

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was critical in the destruction of the Japanese carriers.¹ In less than two minutes 54 SBDs struck the fatal blows that lead to the destruction of the IJN Akagi, IJN Kaga, and IJN Soryu.⁵ The IJN Hiryu was also received damage from the SBD Dauntlesses.⁵

"Fighter"

One SBD Dauntless gunner shot down seven Mitsubishi Zero fighters in two days.¹

United States Army

The SBD was sent to the Philippines in November 1941.^3,5 When the Japanese took over, they were moved to Australia.^3,5 In February 1942 they were moved to the Dutch Indies where they didn't perform very well.⁵

Britain's Fleet Air Arm

The FAA were supplied with SBD-5s but weren't used operationally.³

France

A-24Bs and SBD-5s were supplied to France which used them against the Germans along the Atlantic Coast.³ The Free French received about 40 - 50 A-24Bs in 1943.⁴ Training was conducted in Morocco and Algeria.⁴

Mexico

The Mexicans used A-24Bs on anti-submarine patrols in the Caribbean.³

New Zealand

The Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF) used the SBD-2s in the No 25 Squadron from 1943 - 1944.⁴ They were commanded by Squadron Leader T. J. MacLean de Lange.⁴

Specifications