Air Power Series>1:32 die-cast display model>SBD>HA0206

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 May 8, 1942 when the USS Yorktown and USS Lexington were attacked by aircraft from the Japanese carriers Shokaku and Zuikaku part of the defense force was provided by SBD-3's from USS Lexington. The SBD-3 BuNo.4537 "White S-8" of VS-2 crewed by Lt(jg) William E Hall and Seaman 1st Class John A Moore was assigned to low-level anti-torpedo aircraft patrol. During the fighting pilot Lt.(jg) William E. Hall was seriously wounded in the foot but continued to fight shooting down at least one Nakajima B5N. When Hall landed his aircraft it was so damaged that it was jettisoned overboard. In January 1942 the US Navy began to change recognition markings on its aircraft and for several months aircraft were seen wearing various combinations of markings.

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