Douglas SBD Dauntless

- About the aircraft

The Douglas SBD Dauntless (and Douglas A-24 Banshee as USAAF variant) was a vital and iconic dive bomber of the United States Navy and Marine Corps during World War II. Entering service in 1940, it quickly became a workhorse of the Pacific Theater, playing a crucial role in key battles and contributing significantly to the Allied victory.

The SBD was a single-engine, low-wing monoplane known for its rugged construction, inherent stability, and remarkable accuracy when delivering its payload in a near-vertical dive. Armed typically with a single .50 caliber machine gun in the nose and twin .30 caliber machine guns for the rear gunner, along with a 1,000 lb bomb under the fuselage and smaller bombs under the wings, the Dauntless proved effective against both surface vessels and land-based targets.

While not the fastest or most maneuverable aircraft, the SBD's strengths lay in its reliability and its ability to cripple or sink enemy ships, particularly aircraft carriers. Its most famous achievement was its pivotal role in the Battle of Midway, where SBDs were responsible for sinking four Japanese carriers, turning the tide of the war in the Pacific. They also excelled in the Battle of the Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, and countless other engagements.

Beyond its combat effectiveness, the Dauntless gained a reputation for being a dependable and forgiving aircraft for its pilots, who often faced intense anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition. It served with distinction throughout the war and was eventually replaced by more advanced aircraft, but its legacy as a pivotal weapon system remains secure.

Possible Nicknames:

• "Slow But Deadly" (SBD): This is perhaps the most famous and widespread nickname, a direct play on the aircraft's initials. It recognized the Dauntless's relatively slow speed but emphasized the devastating power of its dive bombing attacks.

• "Clunk": Some pilots, perhaps less impressed with the SBD's performance, used this term, suggesting a somewhat clumsy or awkward feel to the aircraft's handling.

• "Swiss Cheese Maker": A more grimly humorous nickname, referencing the SBD's ability to riddle enemy ships with accurately placed bombs.

- About the variant

SBD-5
The most produced version, primarily produced at the Douglas Aircraft plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Equipped with a 1,200-hp engine and an increased ammunition supply. A total of 2,965 were built, and a few were shipped to the Royal Navy for evaluation. In addition to American service, these saw combat against the Japanese with No. 25 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force which soon replaced them with F4Us, and against the Luftwaffe with the Free French Air Force. A few were also sent to Mexico.

C O N T R O L S
Trim : Flaps, cruising 'rotate' adjuster
VTOL : Further flaps
AG.1 : Arresting hook