By the time a land-based variant, known as the A-25 Shrike, became available in late 1943, the Western Allied air forces had abandoned dedicated dive-bombers. Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier skippers seemed to like the aircraft. Nevertheless, the type was faster than the Dauntless, and by the end of the Pacific War, the Helldiver had become the main dive bomber and attack aircraft on Navy carriers. This contributed to the decline of Curtiss as a company. Initially, poor handling characteristics and late modifications caused lengthy delays to production and deployment, to the extent that it was investigated by the Truman Committee, which turned in a scathing report. Navy, in Pacific theaters, it supplemented and replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless. The Helldiver, also known as the A-25 Shrike, was a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright during World War II. 18, 1940: The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver made its first flight. "After being submerged for 50 years, the aircraft was recovered from the lake's cold water in 1994 and following extensive restoration, is now on display at the National naval Aviation Museum." ~ Leatherneck, by Nancy S.Dec. On June 11, 1943, during an unsuccessful approach to the training carrier USS Sable (IX-81), the pilot of the aircraft lost power and had to ditch the Dauntless in Lake Michigan. "After the Battle of Midway, BuNo 2106 was returned to the United States, where it was repaired and assigned to the carrier qualification training unit at Glenview, Ill. (Each Marine later received the Silver Star for their actions in the skies over Guadalcanal). 1stLt Iverson, pictured standing on the wing on his battle-damaged Dauntless, was the recipient of the Navy Cross for his actions at Midway and his gunner, PFC Reid, received the Distinguished Flying Cross. "Some of the holes caused by enemy rounds are visible in the photo of the airplane (in gallery) taken on Midway Atoll, June 4, 1942. The enemy also inflicted significant damage - BuNo 2106 was one of only eight of the squadron's SBD-2s to survive the battle. 'The Marine scout-bomber pilots and aircrewmen of VMSB-241 made determined attacks on enemy shipping with great losses.' said Hill Goodspeed, the historian for the National naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. "With First Lieutenant Daniel Iverson as the pilot and Private First Class Wallace Reid as rear gunner, BuNo 2106 was one of 16 SBD-2s of VMSB-241 that attacked the approaching enemy force during the Battle of Midway. "The Dauntless was then transferred to Marine Scout Bombing Squadron (VMSB) 241, arriving on Midway Atoll in late May 1942, only days before the Battle of Midway. Stanley flew BuNo 2106 in a daring raid against enemy shipping in the area of New Guinea for which LTJG Whittier later received the Navy Cross. Whittier and his rear gunner Aviation Radioman Second Class Forest G. On March 10, 1942, Navy Lieutenant Junior Grade Mark T. As luck would have it, the aircraft was not damaged, and shortly thereafter, was loaded on board USS Lexington (CV-2), bound for the South Pacific. "Originally assigned to a Navy squadron, the Dauntless was in a hanger on Ford Island when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. "The SBD-2 Dauntless Dive-bomber, Bureau Number (BuNo) 2106, at the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla., is an airplane with a story to tell Location of display: Radford Blvd, NAS Pensacola, Pensacola
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