Product Review

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the US Navy's main carrier-borne scout plane and dive-bomber, and was a good match in combat against the faster, but lightly armored Japanese fighters. Able to carry a substantial bomb load, the Dauntless proved to be very effective in sinking Japanese ships, and it earned glory during the famous Battle of Midway. The SBD-5 was the definitive model of the series, with an increased ammunition capacity and a more powerful engine than its predecessors had. It was also produced in a land-based variant, the A-24 Banshee.

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless (Lee)
Major Christian C. Lee and his VMS-3 performed search, patrol, and convoy escort duties in the Caribbean until 1944.

Douglas A-24B Banshee (Ruet)
The GCB 1/18 "Vendee" harassed German forces retreating from the south of France from Summer 1944 to the end of the war.

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless (Kirkendahl)
Lt. JG Kirkendahl flew in bombing squadron VB-16, aboard the USS Lexington, which fought in the Pacific war until 1944.