Air Power Series>1:32 die-cast display model>SBD>HA0210

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 August 25, 1942 Douglas SBD-3 BuNo. 03315 “Black 16” from Scouting 71 aboard the USS Wasp (CV-7) was flown by two different pilots that day. The aircraft was used to down three Japanese aircraft on the 25th. During the morning flight Lt(jg) Chester V. Zalewski downed two Aichi E13A “Jake” floatplanes. In the afternoon “Black 16” was piloted by Lt. Morris R. Doughty on an anti- shipping sortie when he downed a Kawanishi H8K “Emily”. The three red stars mark the events of that day.

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