General Background

The Douglas “Dauntless” was the workhorse for the US Navy during the WWII. This “Slow but Deadly” dive-bomber was the only plane that had fight in every major Pacific conflicts. Although it had been considered obsolete in 1941 already, the Dauntless was used until 1944 and undertook the last major conflict in the Battle of Philippine Sea. A total of 5,936 SBDs were produced in WWII.

The Aircraft

On June 4, 1942 the Japanese fleet was spotted off Midway and 16 SBD-2s from VSMB-241 were launched to attack the Japanese carriers. The squadron commander was shot down so Richard Fleming and Eugene Card flying Dauntless White 2 took the lead. White 2 pressed on and flying at 400 feet released their bomb on the Hiryu. Card had been wounded but managed to continue shooting. When White 2 landed they counted 179 holes in the aircraft. The aircraft couldn’t be flown until repairs had been made.

Specifications

• Dimensions
• Length: 32 ft., 8 in.
• Height: 13 ft., 7 in.
• Wingspan: 41ft., 6 in.
• Weights:
• Empty: 6,345 lb.
• Gross: 10,400 lb.
• Powerplant: One 1,000 horsepower Wright R-1820-52 engine
• Performance
• Maximum Speed: 250 M.P.H.
• Maximum Range with Bomb Load: 1,345 miles
• Service Ceiling: 27,100 ft.
• Crew: Pilot and gunner/radio operator
• Armament: Two fixed forward-firing .50-in. guns, two flexible-mounted rear-firing .30-in. guns, 1,200 lb. of ordnance