Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>SBD>HA0166

General Background

The SBD-5 Dauntless was the best variant built with 2,965 aircraft being built. Even with its upgrades there was one major stumbling block for this plane and that was its lack of folding wings. As the USN built more and more carriers for their offensive against Japan this problem became even larger. So after the invasion of the Mariannas the USN SBDs were assigned to secondary land based operations where they spent the rest of WWII.

The Aircraft

During February and March 1944 the RNZAF received 18 ex-USMC SBD-5’s. One of the aircraft c/n 3863 Bu.No28516 became NZ5060 and was assigned to No. 25 Squadron. The aircraft arrived at Piva Airstrip on Bougainville on March 23rd 1944 and flew its first mission on March 24th. NZ5060 was crewed by Flying Officer Leslie McLellan-Symonds and Flight Sergeant R.F. Bailey. The main targets for No. 25 were other parts of Bougainville and Rabaul. The normal tour of duty in the Piva area was six weeks but No. 25 Squadron did eight. The crews flew an average of 95 hours and completed 29 of 32 planned strikes. The RNZAF began to receive F4U-1 Corsairs and after only 4 months of service the SBD-5’s were returned to the USMC on May 20, 1944.

Specifications :

Manufacturer:	Douglas Aircraft Company
Crew:	2 (pilot, observer/gunner)
Dimension:
Length:	33'1" 10.0m)
Height:	13'7" (4.1m)
Wingspan:	41'6" (12.6m)
Wing area:	325.0 sq. ft. (30.0 sq.m)
Weight:
Empty weight:	6,404 lb (2,905 kg)
Gross weight:	10,676 lb (4,853 kg
Performance:
Powerplant:	1 X Wright R-1820-60 1,200 hp
Range:	1,115 miles (1,795 km)
Cruising speed:	185 mph (298 km/h) (161 kt)
Maximum speed:	255 mph (410 km/h) (221 kt)
Climb rate:	1,700 ft/min (518 m/min)
Ceiling:	25,530 ft (7,780 m)
Armament:	2 X 0.50 inch MGs in upper nose
	2 X 0.30 inch movable MGs rearward firing from rear cockpit
	up to 2,250 lb of bombs – 1 X 1,600 lb
	or 1,000 center-line bomb – 2 X 325 lb under wing