Thread by @USAS_WW1

#avgeek #planespotting #USNavy #USAF #USMC: Douglas SBD Dauntless / A-24 Banshee carrier-borne and land-based dive-bomber saw extensive action in the Pacific. At Midway, SBDs damaged the IJN carriers Akagi, Kaga, Soryu and Hiryu, leading to loss of all four. 1/ TY @Sylvia70485099

2/ The SBD ("Scout Bomber Douglas") first flew in 1940. Recognition: circular perforated dive brakes; wings: compact, sturdy, non-folding. Crew: 2. 5,936 built, 1940–1944. Used by USA, France and New Zealand. Let’s visit the different versions and check out details… #Models

3/ SBD-1: 1,000 hp Wright R-1820-32 Cyclone; 6-volt electrical system. 2 x .50 cal guns on upper cowling + 1 x .30 cal rear-facing on semi-circular mount. 57 built, all in 1940. USMC only. Images: aviation-history.com/douglas/sbd.ht…⬅️.

4/ SBD-2↖️↗️: 87 built, all in 1941. US Navy only. Added wing fuel tanks. Some converted to SBD-2P recon types. SBD-3↙️↘️: 584 built; 1941. Added 2 x .30 cal rear guns on semi-circular mount (so 2 x .50 + 2 x .30 = 4 machine guns total), more armor and self-sealing fuel tanks.

5/ SBD-4: 780 built. Per airplanes3d.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/dif…, 24-volt electrical system for radar, etc., that was not factory-installed due to lack of available units. Some converted to SBD-4P recons.

SBD-5: 2,965 built. 1,200 hp Wright R-1820-60 Cyclone; more onboard ammo. This SBD-5 is a flying machine and is at the Commemorative Air Force in Peachtree City, GA↖️. This one is on CV-10 Yorktown↗️↙️↘️, Charleston, SC.

7/ The Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless: 450 built 1944. Engine improved to a 1,350 hp Wright R-1820-66 Cyclone. This splendid SBD-6 is at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC @NASM. More on the SBD-6: si.edu/object/douglas….

The Douglas A-24 Banshee was the USAAF’s version of the SBD but without a tailhook. SBD-3A was the A-24 (168 built), SBD-4A > A-24A (170), SBD-5A > A-24B (615). Only one A-24A and three A-24Bs survive. This A-24B↖️↗️ is at the USAF Museum in Dayton, Ohio @AFmuseum.

@AFmuseum 9/ The SBD was the US Navy’s most successful bomber. It sank six #IJN aircraft carriers, 14 cruisers, six destroyers and 15 transports/cargo ships, and many smaller vessels. Sources:
a. airplanes3d.wordpress.com/2015/07/11/dif….
b. pearlharboraviationmuseum.org/aircraft/dougl….
c. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_S….

@AFmuseum 10/ I enjoyed sitting in the SBD-5 at the Commemorative Air Force in Peachtree City, GA. Here are details. Here’s the front cockpit. It’s been modernized some, but you can get a better feel for layout, colors, size, view, etc.

@AFmuseum 11/ Here’s the same SBD-5’s rear cockpit. My new friend demonstrated the rear .30 cals. The ring allows them to point anywhere to the rear and straight up too! The SBD is credit with shooting down more enemy planes than lost to enemy planes, a rare feat indeed.

@AFmuseum 12/ Here's Chuck's @ChuckMcCormick1 excellent 2:00 minute clip of Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless starting, taxing, flying, landing, etc. This one is at Planes of Fame in Chino, California, about 1.5 hours E of Los Angeles, IIRC. @PlanesofFame.