Product Description
The Douglas “Dauntless” was the workhorse for the US Navy during the WWII. This “Slow but Deadly” dive-bomber was the only plane that had fight in every major Pacific conflicts. Although it had been considered obsolete in 1941 already, the Dauntless was used until 1944 and undertook the last major conflict in the Battle of Philippine Sea. A total of 5,936 SBDs were produced in WWII.
In June 1943 USN aircraft began wearing a new tricolor national insignia with a red surround as well as false gun ports painted on the wing leading edges. Between September 1943 and June 1944 VB-16 flew from USS Lexington. On September 18, 1943 VB-16 took part in the raids on the Gilbert Islands, raids on Tarawa and Wake in the fall. On December 4, 1943 VB-16 was part of a large raid on Kwajalein Atoll in an effort to soften the Japanese strong hold prior to the actual invasion in early 1944.