Il Douglas SBD Dauntless was an important American reconnaissance aircraft and dive bomber in World War II. It was also the primary carrier-based reconnaissance and dive bomber aircraft of the US Navy (until 1944).
The primary users of the aircraft were the US Navy, the Marine Corps, the United States Army Air Forces (pictured below), the Free French Air Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.
The first prototype took flight for the first time in May 1940 and the aircraft was produced from 1940 to 1944 by the Douglas Aircraft Company; in total almost 6000 examples were built (including the various series and variants).
I Douglas SBD Dauntless – sturdy, though pleasingly designed – were probably not “large aircraft” in the purely aeronautical sense of the term. In fact, from a technical point of view they were already obsolete in 1941. However, the aircraft “they possessed two qualities: they were able to absorb the harshest anti-aircraft fire, and they had a gentle dive (thanks to special perforated aerodynamic brakes) which allowed for very effective aiming".1
I Dauntless, during the conflict, distinguished themselves in the Battle of the Coral Sea (4-8 May 1942) and especially in the Battle of Midway (see article "The War in the Pacific: The Battle of Midway (1942)").
At Midway (photo) the aircraft were able to inflict fatal damage on the Japanese carriers. Kaga, Akagi, Soryu and Hiryu.
Around 1943, the operational role of the Dauntless gradually declined. However, they remained in service until the end of the conflict.
Il Douglas SBD Dauntless (SBD-5) had a wingspan of 12,65 m, length 10 m and height of 4,14 m.
The empty weight was 2905 kg while fully loaded 4245 kg.
Engine: 1 Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9, power 1200 hp.
The maximum speed was 410 km/h at 4300 m, the cruising speed was 298 km/h and the service ceiling was 7780 m.
The armament consisted of 12,7 mm Browning machine guns and 7,62 mm Browning machine guns. In addition, it was capable of carrying up to 1020 kg of bombs.
The aircraft could count on a crew of 2 men.
1 G. Bonacina, The Dauntless, in Illustrated History n°186, 1973, p.122
Photo: web / US Navy
