Hobby Master 1/32 HA0213 SBD-2 Dauntless Pearl Harbor Dive Bomber Model

Designed as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, various versions of the Dauntless served during the war with the US Marine Corps, Army and Navy. The Douglas was the only plane to fight in every major Pacific engagement. The SBD-3, sarcastically nicknamed “Speedy Three”, entered service in March 1941 with production ending in July 1944, by which time a total of 5,936 had been built in all versions.

On December 7, 1941 LCDR Howard Young, Commander Enterprise Group, USS Enterprise was leading 36 aircraft from the carrier back to Ford Island. Approaching land Young noticed aircraft over MCAS Ewa and thought this was odd for an early Sunday morning. Anti-aircraft explosions were sighted and an attacking aircraft came into view. Under attack the U.S. aircraft had no chance to become the attackers so they dove and zigzagged trying to elude the attackers. By the time the American aircraft landed they had lost 6 SBDs, Young’s aircraft survived.