Welcome to midway hell..

[Boca]

..it's the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver at Midway Islands..
7am start..

Up and away..

..who said the Pacific skies were always blue ?..

..as with most of the US pacific warbirds...this was built for function and not beauty..

[coulterww]

Nice shots...  In relation to the weather, during the Battle of Midway in early June 1942, the weather was broken clouds down low, but CAVU at higher altitudes.  The SB2C-1C, also known as the Beast, or Son of a Bitch, 2nd Class, didn't enter service until 1943, receiving its baptism of fire in a raid on Rabaul on November 11, 1943 with VB-17 on the USS Bunker Hill.  Most reports state the combat debut was dismal at best for the Helldiver, as the plane had stability problems.  Later models (SB2C-3) introduced a re-designed fin and perforated dive flaps similar in design to the tried and tested Dauntless.  When given a choice (most pilots weren't, I'm sure), pilots preferred the old Slow But Deadly Dauntless.

The SB2C could carry both bombs and depth charges, and could also be fitted with a torpedo, though this was not known to have been done in serice, only in testing.  The Helldiver could carry two 500 lb bombs side by side in the bomb bay, dropped from the aircraft from a double crutch assembly, or a single bomb of up to 1600 lb on a single crutch.  There was a turtle deck aft of the guner's compartment forward of the vertical stabilizer that could collapse, laying flat and giving the gunner a better field of fire, however this caused great drag on the aircraft, slowing it marginally and boosting fuel consumption.

By the time all the bugs had been worked out and the SB2C-4s were rolling off the assembly lines, the Dive Bomber as a type were becoming obsolete.  Fighters, such as the F6F Hellcat and F4u Corsair could carry the same 2000 lb bomb load, and maintained offensive capabilities once the bombs were off.

Just a little background to go with these nice pics!

Wayne

[Boca]

I didn't say they were from  during the Battle of Midway.   .... but thanks for the info and background.  :)

[coulterww]

I understood you weren't saying the pics were during Midway...  I was noting that your weather was just about right for Midway during the battle...  and as I am wont to do at times, I thought a short history of the Helldiver would be appreciated.

That being said, the Battle of Midway WAS the Combat Debut of the TBF Avenger.  Six Avengers assigned to Torpedo 8 (Yes, the same squadron that lost ALL of its TBD Devastators and all of the pilots except for Ens George Gay) were flown to Midway and were all but wiped out.  Five were shot down and the sixth (8-T-1)crashed on return to Midway due to battle damage.

Wayne

[beaky]

#4 is excellent.

[Phantom5000]

what helldiver is that??? Thats a awesome paint job on there as well, its the paint job of the Only remaining SB2C Helldiver still flying which is owned by the Commemorative Air Force(CAF). sweet shots btw!

[Boca]

I understood you weren't saying the pics were during Midway...  I was noting that your weather was just about right for Midway during the battle...  and as I am wont to do at times, I thought a short history of the Helldiver would be appreciated.

That being said, the Battle of Midway WAS the Combat Debut of the TBF Avenger.  Six Avengers assigned to Torpedo 8 (Yes, the same squadron that lost ALL of its TBD Devastators and all of the pilots except for Ens George Gay) were flown to Midway and were all but wiped out.  Five were shot down and the sixth (8-T-1)crashed on return to Midway due to battle damage.

Wayne

Oh. Don't pick me up wrong...I loved your description of the day's events and wholeheartedly welcome them.  They add some life to my dull shots.  ;D