The Douglas SBD Dauntless was one of the truly great aircraft of
World War II. It played a major role throughout the Pacific. On
June 4, 1942, during the Battle of Midway, SBDs destroyed four
Japanese carriers, dramatically altering the course of the war.
The SBD's design was based on the Northrop BT-1, but with engine
and structural changes. Production orders were placed in April
1939, with all SBD-1s going to U.S. Marine Corps units.
Subsequent models were sent to Navy squadrons, with each
succeeding model carrying such improvements as increased fuel
capacity, illuminated gunsights, and armor plates for the crew.
England, New Zealand, and France also used SBDs. The SBD-6 was
the last production model, with 450 built. This SBD-6 carries
the markings of VS-51 (Navy scout squadron), which operated in
the Pacific during World War II. Transferred from the United
States Navy. Country of Origin: United States of America
Overall: 13ft 8 15/16in. x 40ft 9in., 10555.6lb., 54ft 2in.
(4.19m x 12.42m, 4788kg, 16.51m) Si