SBD-2 Dauntless VMSB-232, Ewa Mooring Field, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941 (1:72)

From mid -1940 until November 1943 the Douglas Dauntless, nicknamed the �Barge�, �Clunk� and best of all �Slow But Deadly�, was the standard U.S. Navy carrier dive-bomber. It was gradually phased out by the Curtiss Helldiver with the SBDs last major carrier action coming on June 20, 1944 against the Japanese Mobile Fleet during the �Battle of the Philippine Sea�. The air craft first started out as the Northrup BT-1 but when Douglas took them over it immediately was re-designated the Douglas SBD Dauntless. Since Douglas Aircraft produced the SBD it and its basic role was that of Scout Bomber SBD stood for Scout Bomber Douglas. It had a designation period from 1934 - 1946. Designed with the role of Scout Bomber the plane was crewed by a pilot and an observer.

On December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan SBD-2 White �2-B-6� like all other aircraft was lined up so they could easily be protected from sabotage. White �2-B-6� was one of two spare former USS Lexington SBD-2s assigned to VMSB-232 and still wearing its USN markings. When the Japanese aircraft arrived over the field and found the U.S. aircraft all bunched up it was shooting fish in a barrel. They bombed and strafed everything in sight. After the initial shock Master Technical Sergeant Emil S.
Peters ran to SBD-2 White �2-B-6� that had been parked behind the squadron�s tent.
Peters opened the rear cockpit and climbed in and released the .30 caliber Machine Gun. Private William G. Turner gathered some ammunition belts and came to assist MTS Peters by feeding him the belts. According to witnesses the two managed to shoot down at least two of the attacking aircraft and for a time held several others at bay. Eventually the Japanese grew tired of this and two Japanese aircraft concentrated their fire on the SBD. The aircraft was riddled with 7.7 mm bullets wounding both men. MTS Peters suffered non-life threatening wounds but Private Turner who had been standing on the wing fell mortally wounded to the ground. Both men were awarded the Bronze Star for their combat heroism.
VMSB-232 was the former VMB-2 until July 1,1941 when the dark clouds of war began to become visible. Along with the new designation came the loss of the colorful pre-war schemes. The new paint scheme was simple and less colorful, all grey. The unit name of �The Red Devils� was transferred as well but the bright red insignia didn�t appear on the aircraft.
Douglas SBD-2 specifications

Role � Scout Bomber

Crew � 2

Armament
2 forward firing .50 caliber machine guns.
Tail gunner equipped with twin .30 caliber machine guns.
Capable of carrying a 1600 lb bomb under the fuselage, a crutch was used to swing it clear of the propeller in a dive.
Capable of carrying a 650 lb bomb under each wing.
87 SBD-2s were made.

Length: 32� 1� (9.7m)
Height: 13� 7� (4.1m)
Wingspan: 41� 6� (12.6m)
Wing area: 325 sq. ft (30.0 sq. m)
Empty weight: 5,652 lb. (2,564 kg)
Gross weight: 10,337 lb. (4,698 kg)
Max. weight: 10,360 lb. (4,699 kg)

Engine: 1 Wright R-1820-32
Horsepower: 1,000

Range: 1,225 miles (1,970 km)
Cruise speed: 148 mph (238 km/h) (128 kt)
Max speed: 256 mph (412 km/h) (222 kt)
Climb rate: 1.080 ft/min. (329 m/min.)
Ceiling: 27,260 ft (8,319 m)