When did the Douglas SBD Dauntless begin its development as the Northrop BT-1?
The Douglas SBD Dauntless began its life as the Northrop BT-1 in 1935. Design work on that prototype started years before World War II erupted across Europe and Asia.
Questions about Douglas SBD Dauntless
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What was the total number of Douglas SBD Dauntless aircraft produced during the war?
A total of 5,936 SBDs were produced during the war. The last SBD rolled off the assembly lines at the Douglas Aircraft plant in El Segundo California on the 21st of July 1944.
How many Japanese fleet carriers did the Douglas SBD Dauntless sink or damage at the Battle of Midway?
Four squadrons of Navy SBD dive bombers attacked and sank or fatally damaged all four Japanese fleet carriers present during the Battle of Midway in early June 1942. They disabled three of them in the span of just six minutes including the Akagi Kaga and Soryu.
Where was the Douglas SBD Dauntless manufactured and which plants built almost all units?
The plane was developed at the Douglas El Segundo California plant. That facility along with the company's Oklahoma City plant built almost all the SBDs produced.
When did the Douglas SBD Dauntless production end and what replaced it in the U.S. Navy?
Production ended in the summer of 1944 with only 450 built for the final version known as the SBD-6. The Navy placed emphasis on the heavier faster and longer-ranged SB2C Helldiver by 1944.