Douglas SBD-5 'Dauntless'
HISTORY
- It started its career at Pearl Harbor in October 1943. From there it went to Espiritu Santo in the South Pacific in March of '44 and was assigned to 25 Squadron of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. During its brief service with the RNZAF, it flew 32 combat missions from Bougainville. In May of that year it was returned to the U.S. Navy at Russell Island and departed for San Diego in June.
- Best known for its dive-bombing success against the Japanese during the Battle of Midway during World War II. Armed with two forward-firing .50-caliber machine guns and flexible twin .30-caliber guns aft, the SBD was well defended while diving on a target with its typical configuration of a 500- or 1,000-pound bomb.
- In 1958, museum founder Ed Maloney obtained Planes of Fame Air Museum's SBD Dauntless from a Hollywood film studio, minus its wings.
- Restoration of the SBD by the Museum began in 1982 and was completed in 1987.
- Looking for the definition of SBD? Find out what is the full meaning of SBD on Abbreviations.com! 'South Beach Diet' is one option - get in to view more @ The Web's largest and most authoritative acronyms and abbreviations resource.
- The SBD is famous for turning the tide of the war at the Battle of Midway. It was popularly known as the 'Slow But Deadly', stemming from the initials SBD and its relatively low speed by its pilots. SBD took part in defending Pearl Harbour. It was also their first action in WW2. 3 days later, SBD from USS Enterprise sunk I-170.
- The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD ('Scout Bomber Douglas') was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944.
DISTINCTION
- The museum's SBD is an actual combat veteran.
- This aircraft is currently the only true Navy SBD Dauntless flown regularly.
- This Dauntless was used in the movie Midway, with Charlton Heston being filmed in the cockpit.
SPECIFICATIONS
Sbd Movie Trailer
Directed by Mike Phillips. With Jade Willey, John Enick, Judd Nelson, C. By June 1942, the Japanese Navy has swept across the Pacific. In an effort to change the course of the war, a United States carrier group is positioned off the coast of Midway, tasked with springing a trap on the enemy.
Status: Flyable |
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company |
Year: 1943 |
Model: SBD-5 Dauntless |
Registration Number: N670AM |
Serial Number: 28536 |
Crew: 2 |
Max T/O Weight: 10,700 lb. |
Span: 41 ft. 6 in. |
Length: 33 ft. 1 in. |
Height: 13 ft. 7 in. |
Maximum Speed: 255 mph |
Cruise Speed: 185 mph |
Rate of Climb: 1,700 ft/min |
Power Plant: 1, 1,200-hp Wright R-1820-60 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine |
Range: 1,115 miles |
Service Ceiling: 25,530 ft. |
Armament: Two fixed forward firing .50-cal & two flexible .30-cal rear machine guns |
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