Air Power Album #3: United States

Sikorsky XR-5 (43-28237).

 

Sikorsky XR-5, piloted by Igor Sikorsky.

 

Sikorsky XR-5, USAAF.

 

`Although known for its helicopters, Sikorsky began as an airplane company. The S-43 amphibious commercial airliner, known as the Baby Clipper, was first flown on 1 June 1935. It could accommodate between eighteen and twenty-five passengers, with a separate two-pilot cockpit. A total of fifty-three aircraft were built, including seventeen for the US Navy (designated JRS) and five for the Army Air Corps (OA-8). The S-43 was used primarily by Pan American World Airways for flights to Cuba and within Latin America. Two other domestic operators – Reeve Aleutian Airways and Inter-Island Airways – were also initial S-43 operators. Airlines in Norway, France, and Brazil later operated second-hand S-43s. A JRS-1 stationed at Pearl Harbor during the Imperial Japanese attack in 1941 is currently being restored at the National Air and Space Museum.

 

Curtiss SBC-3 "Helldiver" receives maintenance, NAS Miami, Florida, 9 April 1943. (US National Archives 80-G-K-714)

 

Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers approach the burning Japanese cruiser Mikuma during the Battle of Midway, June 6, 1942.

 

Ensign Leif Larsen and rear gunner John F. Gardener in their Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bomber.

 

Douglas SBD Dauntless rear gunner in publicity shot.

 

A VB-8 SBD lands well off centerline, almost on top of the LSO, during the Battle of Midway.

 

U.S. Navy LCdr Maxwell F. Leslie, commanding officer of Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3), ditches his Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless next to the heavy cruiser USS Astoria (CA-34) after successfully attacking the Japanese carrier Soryu during the Battle of Midway, 13:48 hrs, 4 June 1942. Leslie and his wingman Lt(jg) P.A. Holmberg ditched near Astoria due to fuel exhaustion, after their parent carrier USS Yorktown (CV-5) was under attack by Japanese planes when they returned. Leslie, Holmberg, and their gunners were rescued by one of the cruiser's whaleboats. Note one of the cruiser's Curtiss SOC Seagull floatplanes on the catapult.

 

View of the commencement of a launch of the Saratoga Air Group on board the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3), circa in the Autumn of 1941. The plane nearest to the camera is a Grumman F4F-3 Wildcat of Fighting Squadron 3 (3-F-15 of VF-3), followed by Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless of Bombing Squadron 3 (VB-3). Douglas TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron 3 (VT-3) are spotted on the aft part of the flight deck (wings folded), followed by SBD-3s, probably of Scouting Squadron 3 (VS-3). Note the overall light gray paint schemes with white lettering and numbering that was carried aboard naval aircraft for a short time during 1941.

 

U.S. Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers flying over Naval Air Station Daytona Beach, Florida, in October 1942.

 

U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless of Scouting Squadron 6 (VS-6) in flight. This is a composite photograph of nine planes in flight, with the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) and a plane guard destroyer below. The original photo is dated 27 October 1941. Note the differences in ocean surface wave patterns between the upper and lower images, skillfully blended to combine the two photographs.

 

A U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of bombing squadron VB-16 flies an antisubmarine patrol low over the battleship USS Washington (BB-56) en route to the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, 12 November 1943. The ship in the background is USS Lexington (CV-16), the aircraft's home carrier. Note the depth charge below the SBD.

 

Two U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless aircraft of Bombing Squadron 10 (VB-10) turn into the landing pattern as they return to the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CV-6) after strikes on the Palau Islands, 20-30 March 1944. Note tail hooks in down position.

 

U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-2/-3 Dauntless dive bombers of Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) peeling off for a practice attack in 1941.

 

U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers of bombing squadron VB-16 off USS Lexington (CV-16) fly low over Japanese installations on Param Island, Truk Atoll, 17-18 February 1944. Note the smoke rising from the buildings. VB-16 operated from Lexington during the period September 1943-June 1944, and was for a time one of only two Dauntless squadrons assigned to Pacific fleet carriers. The squadron participated in the famous attack against the Japanese Fleet during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944.

 

Douglas SBD "Dauntless" dive bomber balanced on nose after crash landing on carrier flight deck, June 21, 1943.

 

SBD dive bombers on USS Yorktown, April 1942. At the command prepare for launching planes, the flight deck of an aircraft carrier becomes as busy as a midtown street crossing.

 

Douglas SBD Dauntless over Dublon island in Truk lagoon.

 

Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless (1603) US Marine Corps. This is aircraft number 1 of Marine Bombing Squadron One (VMB-1), Aircraft One, Fleet Marine Force, and based at MCAS Quantico, Virginia, ca. late 1940.

 

U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers assigned to Composite Squadron 40 (VC-40) pictured at Piva Uncle Airstrip, Torokina prior to taking off on strike against Talili Bay, Rabaul, on 6 April 1944. The strike group that day consisted of 54 SBDs and 36 Grumman TBF Avengers with launch beginning at 1000 and the attack commencing at 1200.

 

SBD-5, from NAS Alameda, landing at OLF Concord, March 1944.

 

A U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless of Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5) roars off the deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6) for an early morning attack against Tulagi/Guadalcanal as part of Operation Watchtower. Manning the aircraft were Lt. Turner F. Caldwell, the squadron commander, and ACRM(AA) Willard E. Glidewell. During operations off Guadalcanal, VS-5 participated in the Battle of the Eastern Solomons, and also operated from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal as part of Flight 300, a mixture of aircraft from Enterprise, during August-September 1942. Caldwell commanded Flight 300 during this time.

 

A Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless ready for delivery at Douglas Aircraft Company's El Segundo, California (USA), plant on 4 March 1942. The red and white stripe rudder markings and national insignia featuring a red circle in the middle were just months from being changed based on experience at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942. The red in the insignia caused confusion when engaging Japanese aircraft, which featured red discs on their wings and fuselages. The red and white stripes detracted from the overall camouflage of the airplane's paint scheme.

 

U.S. Army Air Force Douglas A-24 in flight, circa 1942.

 

Scene on the port bridge wing of the Wasp (CV-7), during operations off Guadalcanal on 7 August 1942. Among those present are (from left to right, in the right center) Commander D.F. Smith (hatless); Captain Forrest P. Sherman, Commanding Officer (wearing helmet); Rear Admiral Leigh Noyes, Commander Task Group 61.1 (facing camera); and Lieutenant Commander Wallace M. Beakley, Commander Wasp Air Group, who is making his report to RAdm. Noyes. Note Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless scout bombers (one with a rather small national star painted on its fuselage) on the flight deck and .30 caliber machine gun mounted on the bridge bulwark.

 

A formation of SBD-5 Dauntless dive bombers of Bombing Squadron (VB) 10 off the carrier Enterprise (CV-6) pictured during a mission against Palau. 29-30 March 1944.

 

Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, U.S. Navy.

 

Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless BuNo 1597 flown by Commanding Officer VMB-2, Marine Air Group 11.

 

A U.S. Marine Corps Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless (BuNo 1597) of Marine Bombing Squadron 1 (VMB-2) in flight. Note the overall bare metal scheme with colorful tail, fuselage, and cowl markings. SBD-1 1597 was written off on 15 March 1944. Among the first squadrons to receive the Dauntless in late 1940, VMB-2 was redesignated Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 232 (VMSB-232) in 1941. The squadron suffered heavy aircraft losses during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, and entered combat at Guadalcanal in August 1942 under the command of legendary Marine pilot Major Richard C. Mangrum. Later redesignated a Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron (VMTB), the squadron also participated in campaigns against Bougainville, Rabaul, and Okinawa.

 

Another view of SBD-1 BuNo 1597 of VMB-2.

 

Another view of SBD-1 BuNo 1597 of VMB-2.

 

Another view of SBD-1 BuNo 1597 of VMB-2.

 

Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless BuNo 1626 of Marine Bombing Squadron VMB-2 in late 1940. VMB-2 was the first squadron to be equipped with the then-new Douglas SBD. The squadron was later redesignated VMSB-232.

 

Two Douglas SBD-1 Dauntless dive bombers BuNo 1603 and 1605 assigned to Marine Bombing Squadron VMB-1 pictured on the ground, possibly at the El Segundo Division of Douglas Aircraft Company, in 1940. Note the bare metal paint schemes coupled with section markings and the Marine Corps emblem on the fuselage. VMB-1 and VMB-2 were the first squadrons to receive the Dauntless, taking delivery of their first SBD-1s in 1940. VMB-1 was redesignated Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 132 (VMSB-132) in July 1941.

 

Another view of SBD-1 BuNo 1603 of VMB-1.

 

Fifth Section Leader’s SBD-1 2-MB-13 of VMB-2, late 1940.

 

Douglas A-24 Banshee, USAAF.

 

SBD-2/3 VB-6 USS Enterprise (CV-6), 1942.

 

Douglas RA-24B-15-DT 42-54897 assigned to Air Transport Command.

 

A U.S. Marine Corps Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless from Marine Scout/Bombing Squadron VMSB-231 Ace of Spades flying from Majuro Atoll in early 1944. The markings indicate 23 bombing missions having been flown by the aircraft. Note the mission markings and Ace of Spades insignia on the aircraft. The pilot of the aircraft is Major Elmer G. Glidden, a Midway and Guadalcanal veteran, who commanded VMSB-231 twice during the period September 1942-September 1943 and 1 November 1943-September 1944. He logged 104 combat dives during World War II. Redesignated from Marine Scouting Squadron Two (VMS-2) in July 1941, VMSB-231 aircraft flew to Midway in December 1941, and in March 1942 some elements returned to Hawaii. The remaining personnel formed the nucleus of a new squadron, VMSB-241, which fought during the Battle of Midway in June 1942. Following the battle, the survivors returned to VMSB-231. The squadron arrived at Guadalcanal on 30 August 1942, and remained there until November. Subsequently, the squadron served in the Marshalls, where for a brief time it flew F4U Corsairs under the designation VMBF-231. The squadron was redesignated VMTB-231 in August 1945.

 

Another view of U.S. Marine Corps Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless from Marine Scout/Bombing Squadron VMSB-231 Ace of Spades flying from Majuro Atoll in early 1944.

 

Douglas A-24 Banshee.

 

Douglas A-24-DE 41-15802 at Amberley Field.

 

United States Army Air Force Douglas A-24B-15-DT Banshee 42-54735 of Headquarters Flight Section, 13th Air Force, on Morotai Island, Halmahera Islands, Netherlands East Indies, on 1 January 1945.

 

U.S. Navy deck handlers spot Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless dive bombers of Escort-Scouting Squadron 29 (VGS-29) on the forward part of the flight deck of the escort carrier USS Santee (ACV-29), 27 December 1942. Santee had left Norfolk, Virginia, on the previous day and reached Port of Spain, Trinidad, on 1 January 1943.

 

A-24 Banshee dive bombers from the 635th Bombardment Squadron, 407th Bombardment Group flying over the Aleutians carrying out an attack on Kiska Island on August 4, 1943.

 

Douglas A-24-DE Banshee 41-15780 converted to A-24A prototype in 1943.

 

Douglas A-24B Banshee.

 

A-24B-5-DT Banshee 42-54459 of the 531st Fighter Squadron taxis on December 13, 1943. This was the first A-24B to arrive on Makin in the Gilbert Island chain.

 

Workers assembling the engine compartment for the Wright R-1820 radial engine of SBD Dauntless dive bombers at the Douglas aircraft plant at El Segundo, California, in August 1943.

 

Douglas SBD Dauntless white 18.

 

Douglas A-24-DE 41-15796 being assembled at Amberley Field, January 1942.