page_title: Douglas SBD Dauntless
section_title: See also
hierarchical_section_title: Douglas SBD Dauntless / See also
caption_attribution_description: A U.S. Navy Radioman-Gunner of a Douglas SBD Dauntless aims his aircraft's twin 7.62 mm (0.30 in) caliber Browning M1919 machine guns aboard the light aircraft carrier USS Independence (CVL-22), during the carrier's shakedown period, 30 April 1943. Note the guns' armor plate, gunsight, and variety of bullet types (with tip marking sequence: red, black, light blue &amp; plain).
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: Related development
  Northrop YA-13
  Northrop A-17
  Northrop BT
  Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
  Aichi D3A "Val"
  Blackburn Skua
  Breda Ba.65
  Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
  Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
  Fairey Barracuda
  Junkers Ju 87 Stuka
  Vought SB2U Vindicator
  Vultee A-31 Vengeance
  Related lists
  List of aircraft of World War II
  List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
  List of military aircraft of the United States
  List of attack aircraft
caption: An SBD gunner aims his twin .30 caliber machine guns aboard USS Independence.
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