#Dauntless plane Patch#

As a Captain, he was a section leader in VMSB-241 at Midway Is in June 1942. It was flown by the squadron commander, Major Elmer Glidden. This particular aircraft was assigned to VMSB-231 in the Marshall Islands, late 1944.

#Dauntless plane Patch#

All squadron aircraft carried the “Ace of Spades” patch as shown. Likely some wrangling and horse trading at levels beneath his notice.īut it was as tactical support in the Philippines that had the Dauntless still flying combat missions to VJ Day.Īn SBD of VMSB-231 flying over the Marshall Islands in June 1944. Given how jealous MacArthur was of the Marines and any publicity they got it makes me wonder just how this ever came to be. So in the Philippines it quickly became clear something was missing which led to the Marines being called. In New Guinea, I believe, most close support was provided by the Australians. The Marines claimed this as a first, and it was in the Pacific, but 9th Air Force routinely provided this service in Europe as well.Īs far as I can tell, the local Army Air Force (5th Air Force) was mostly concerned with anti-shipping and airfield suppression. Even taking the responsibility for covering the Army’s flanks on occasion. The Marine Dauntlesses routinely took targets within 300 yds of Army positions, occasionally much closer. Supposedly Army troops had concerns about getting close support from Marines, but the concerns didn’t last long. At the end of 1944 seven Marine Dauntless squadrons found themselves shipped to the Philippines to provide close support in MacArthur’s on going campaign.

They also provided close support through the Marianas campaign. Through 1944 they continued to pound bypassed Japanese positions in the Solomons and Marshalls. And when the Navy was done with the type it continued on as a Marine. The Marine Corps had a number of Dauntless squadrons throughout, in fact the SBD-1 was a wholly Marine variant. 30 during -3 production and that’s what is seen here on the -5. 30 for the rear gunner they switched to a twin.

Shame, I think it looked better with the scoop! On other difference, the -3 here has a single. On the -5, the external air intake on top of the cowling was integrated into the cowling. The -3 had a Hamilton Standard variable pitch, they switched to a Hamilton Standard constant speed in the -4. Propeller and cowling are the most noticeable differences. As a dive bomber it was also fully aerobatic which led to a number of air-to-air kills as well.

It accounted for more Japanese shipping than any other aircraft type by a wide margin. That meant the venerable Dauntless remained in fleet service into 1944, with the Battle of the Philippine Sea (6/1944) being its last carrier battle. Perhaps the biggest knock against the SBD was just that it lacked folding wings, therefore taking too much deck and hanger space on an aircraft carrier.īut Curtiss’ SB2C proved troublesome and had a lengthy development process. Bigger, more powerful types (mainly the Helldiver, but the post-War Skyraider was in planning too) with higher speed and heavier payloads were on the way. The Navy however, considered the type obsolete at the start of the War. Pilot Richard Best of VB-6 said his only complaint was he disliked the sound of the Cyclone engine (Wasp engines sounded smoother!). But apart from a change in air intakes and propeller there was little to tell them apart. There were improvements in protection (armor and self-sealing tanks), electric system and accessories, and defensive gun. Later versions had more power, going from 1000 HP to 1350 HP for the SBD-6. Every sub-type used an engine of the R-1820 family. Let’s take a look at an example in Marine service in the later phase of the type’s career.Įxternally the Dauntless changed little from SBD-1 to SBD-6. Even after retirement from fleet carriers the SBD continued to provide service to the end of the War.