SBD Dauntless “White C 46”
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. The SBD was also flown by the United States Marine Corps, both from land air bases and aircraft carriers. The SBD is best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The type earned its nickname “Slow But Deadly” (from its SBD initials) during this period.
A beautiful collection of color photos of SBD Dauntless dive bombers taken “somewhere in the Pacific” for LIFE magazine. With different cameras. Many of these aircraft show camouflage markings and markings that are being painted and updated. Modelers should take special note of the paint wear and weathering patterns visible on many of these aircraft. A particularly impressive set of images! A nice study of a war-weary SBD in use by a training command. Interesting details are the fresh outlines to the faded national insignia and the replacement cowling with the graded camo scheme. The fading and paint wear present an interesting challenge for an experienced modeler.
SBD Dauntless 'White C 46'