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.

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. DISTINCTION

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The Douglas SBD Dauntless was perhaps the Navy’s most capable, carrier-borne aircraft at the outbreak of war in the Pacific. The 5,936 examples produced accounted for 1,189,473 operational flying hours, almost 25% of the total which US Navy pilots logged during the entire conflict.

The SBD Dauntless was the US Navy's preferred dive-bomber craft during World War II and extremely important in the Pacific theater. Dauntless planes in the Pacific sunk more Japanese seacraft than any other Allied bomber.

Considered the most destructive air weapon in the U.S. Navy arsenal, the SBD sank more than 300,000 tons of enemy ships, a greater tonnage of Japanese shipping than any other Allied aircraft during the war!

Feb 24, 2025 · The Military Aviation Museum’s Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless, currently under restoration at Pioneer Aero Ltd. in New Zealand, has seen significant progress in recent months. The restoration team has been diligently working on various components to return this historic aircraft to airworthy condition.

The SBD was a sturdy and reliable aircraft, and it played a key role in several major naval battles of the war, including the Battle of Midway. The SBD was designed to be a versatile aircraft that could operate from both aircraft carriers and land bases.

At Midway on 4 June 1942 it wrecked all four Japanese carriers, and later in the battle sank a heavy cruiser and severely damaged another. From 1942 through to 1945, in addition to its shipboard service, the SBD saw intensive use with the US Marine Corps, flying from island bases.

Mar 1, 2021 · The Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless will be on display at the Military Aviation Museum before it heads to New Zealand for restoration.