page_title: Douglas SBD Dauntless
section_title: Operators
hierarchical_section_title: Douglas SBD Dauntless / Operators
caption_attribution_description: A Douglas SBD-4 Dauntless (BuNo 06766, RNZAF serial NZ5034) assigned to the Royal New Zealand Air Force receives the attention of ground personnel on Espiritu Santo, in 1944. This aircraft was one of 27 SBD-4s obtained by the RNZAF and operated in the Solomon Islands by No. 25 Squadron RNZAF in 1943/44 until being replaced by Vought F4U-1 Corsair fighters. The SBD-4 BuNo 06766 (c/n 1611) was returned to the U.S. Marine Corps in March 1944.
context_page_description: 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 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" during this period.
  During its combat service, the SBD proved to be an excellent naval scout plane and dive bomber. It possessed long range, good handling characteristics, maneuverability, potent bomb load, great diving characteristics from the perforated dive brakes, good defensive armament, and ruggedness. One land-based variant of the SBD – omitting the arrestor hook — was purpose-built for the U.S. Army Air Forces, as the A-24 Banshee.
context_section_description:  Chile
  Chilean Air Force operated A-24B Banshees.
   France
  French Air Force
  French Navy
   Mexico
  Mexican Air Force
   Morocco
  Moroccan Desert Police
   New Zealand
  Royal New Zealand Air Force
  No. 25 Squadron RNZAF
   United Kingdom
  Royal Air Force received aircraft for evaluation from the nine originally tested by the Fleet Air Arm.
  Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm received nine former United States Navy SBD-5s for evaluation.
   United States
  United States Army Air Forces
  United States Marine Corps
  United States Navy
caption: A No. 25 Squadron RNZAF SBD-4 on Espiritu Santo, 1944
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