A state of the art low wing monoplane with multi-cellular wing.  This revolutionary development allowed for no external wing braces or stays.  Because multi-cellular wings could not fold, the SBD was made very compact.

New dive brakes with perforated flaps allowed for a high angle of dive with controlled speed.  SBD’s carried a center mounted 1,000 lb. bomb on a trapeze that swung the bomb down and forward to clear the prop.  

The most famous US Navy bomber of WWII, the SBD sank more tons of Japanese shipping than all other aircraft combined.  Sinking the carrier Shoho and disabling the Shokaku during the Battle of Coral Sea stopped the Japanese from taking Port Moresby, New Guinea and advancing into the Pacific.  

Prior to their attack on Midway, the Japanese believed the Yorktown was sunk alongside the Lexington at Coral Sea and the Hornet and Enterprise were out of range.  The Imperial Japanese Navy would never recover from the loss of four carriers sunk by SBD’s during the Battle of Midway.  

This SBD was used by the MGM Studios as a wind machine.  

DISPLAY STATUS COUNTRY OF ORIGIN CURRENT LOCATION
Own United States Legends Hangar
PURPOSE & TYPE MATERIALS ERA & DATE RANGE
 Bomber  Steel World War II
1939 – 1945
PRODUCTION &
ACQUISITION		 SPECIFICATIONS SERVICE HISTORY
MFG: Douglas
First Produced: 1940
Number Built: 4,923 total, 780 SBD-4s
Armament: (1) .50 cal machine gun through prop, (2) .30 cal flex mount in rear cockpit, up to 2,250 lbs of external ordnance

Acquired and restored by Yanks in 1984.

 Wingspan: 41’6”
Wing Area: 325 sq ft
Length: 32’8”
Height: 13’7”
Empty Weight: 6,360 lbs
Gross Weight: 10,480 lbs
Powerplant: Wright R-1820-52
Thrust: 
Cruise Speed: 150 mph
Maximum Speed: 235 mph
Range: 1,450 miles		 Delivered: September 21, 1942
Feb 1943 – NAS Roosevelt & NAS Norfolk, VA
Feb 1943 – VS-9 and VB-9 USS Essex
Sept 1943 – Bombed Marcus Island
Nov 1943 – Rabaul, Tarawa, Gilbert Islands
Feb 1944 – Kwajalein, Marshall Islands and Truk Island
Mar 1944 – Saipan Marianas Islands
Stricken: Mar 30, 1944