Designed as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, various versions of the Dauntless served during WWII with the US Marine Corps, Army and Navy. The Douglas Dauntless was the workhorse of the US Navy in the Pacific. The Dauntless dive-bomber was the only plane to fight in every major Pacific engagement and because of the battles and the courage of the men that flew them, this plane became one of the most successful designs of WWII with 5,936 having been built in all versions.

Howard Young’s first encounter with the Japanese was on December 7, 1941 when U.S. aircraft returning from Wake Island met the Japanese attackers at Pearl Harbor. In February 1942, under Young’s command, Air Group Six made the first attack on Japanese held territory. Young took part in raids on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands and later the Marcus and Wake Islands. His actions of leading two successful raids on February 1, 1942 earned Young the DFC. In April 1942 he was promoted to Carrier Air Group Commander.

Specifications for Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless
Crew: 2 X a pilot and a radioman-gunner
SDB-2 had increased fuel capacity but reduced again once self-sealing fuel tanks were available
As well as different armament from the SBD-1 2 forward firing 0.50 caliber machine guns.
Tail gunner equipped with twin 0.30 caliber machine guns.
Capable of carrying a 1600 lb bomb under the fuselage, a crutch was used to swing it clear of the propeller in a dive.
Capable of carrying a 650 lb bomb under each wing.
Number of SBD-2s produced: 87

Dimensions
Length: 32’ 1” (9.7m)
Height: 13’ 7” (4.1m)
Wingspan: 41’ 6” (12.6m)
Wing area: 325 sq. ft (30.0 sq. m)
Weights Empty weight: 5,652 lb. (2,564 kg)
Gross weight: 10,337 lb. (4,698 kg)
Maximum weight: 10,360 lb. (4,699 kg) Engine: 1 X Wright R-1820-32 Horsepower: 1,000 Performance Range: 1,225 miles (1,970 km)
Cruise speed: 148 mph (238 km/h) (128 kt) Max speed: 256 mph (412 km/h) (222 kt) Climb rate: 1.080 ft/min. (329 m/min.)
Ceiling: 27,260 ft (8,319 m)

Info: SBD-2 Dauntless CDR Howard Young, Commander Enterprise Air Group, 1942