This Day in Aviation History
May 1st, 1940
First flight of the Douglas SBD Dauntless.
 
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD (“Scout Bomber Douglas”) was the U.S. Navy’s main carrier-borne scout plane and dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944. The SBD was also flown by the U.S. Marine Corps, both from land air bases and aircraft carriers. The SBD is best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.
 
During its combat service, the SBD was an excellent naval scout plane and dive bomber. It possessed long range, good handling characteristics, maneuverability, potent bomb load capacity, great diving characteristics, defensive armament and ruggedness. One land-based variant of the SBD — in omitting the arrestor hook — was purpose-built for the U.S. Army Air Forces, as the A-24 Banshee….
 
Source:
Wikipedia, Douglas SBD Dauntless: http://gstv.us/1YYmYEl
 
YouTube, Douglas Dauntless: http://gstv.us/1Owyiqj
 
YouTube, SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber: http://gstv.us/1YYmTAC
 
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Photo from: http://gstv.us/2phUNrp
 
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