What is Douglas SBD Dauntless?
{|{{Infobox aircraft begin |name = SBD Dauntless <br> A-24 Banshee |image = File:Douglas SBD Dauntless dropping a bomb, circa in 1942.jpg |caption = A [[U.S. Navy]] SBD releasing a bomb. Note the extended [[dive brake]]s on the [[trailing edge]]s. }}{{Infobox aircraft type |type = [[Dive bomber]]<br>[[Scout plane]] |national origin = United States |manufacturer = [[Douglas Aircraft]] |designer = [[Ed Heinemann]] |first flight = 1 May 1940 |introduced = 1940 |retired = 1959 (Mexico) |produced = 1940–1944 |primary user = [[United States Navy]] |more users = [[United States Marine Corps]] <br> [[United States Army Air Forces]]<br>[[Free French Air Force]]<br>[[Royal New Zealand Air Force]] |number built = 5,936 |status = |unit cost = |developed from = [[Northrop BT]] }} |} The '''SBD Dauntless''' (SBD means '''Scout Bomber Douglas''') was a [[dive bomber]] made by [[Douglas Aircraft Company]] (now [[Boeing]]) during [[World War II]]. It first flew in [[1940]] and was introduced the same year. It was made from the [[Northrop BT]]. The Dauntless's first bombing in the war happened on December 10, 1941. The target was a [[Japan]]ese [[submarine]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_SBD_Dauntless.html |title=Douglas SBD Dauntless |accessdate=2008-06-04 |format= |work= }}</ref> The SBD-3 Dauntless was a unique '''American dive-bomber'''. This was used by the '''U.S. Nav'''y in many ship attack missions, such as the '''Battle Of Midway'''. It was credited for sinking the '''Akag'''i, and many other Japanese '''aircraft-carriers and other battleships'''. This dive-bomber had unique '''airbrakes''' to prevent it from ripping apart at high speeds. These air brakes were painted in a bright red, which was a noticeable feature of the SBD-3. Also, the SBD was a '''carrier based aircraf'''t, meaning it had an arrester hook, and many antennas for communication. In the War, the Dauntless was used to take off [[aircraft carrier]]s and attack enemy [[ship]]s and submarines. The SBD-5 (