DOUGLAS SBD DAUNTLESS
DAUNTLESS SERVICE
| Manufacturer: | The Douglas Aircraft Co. Inc., Santa Monica, California, USA |
| Model: | ? |
| Designations: | SBD; A-24, BT, F-24 |
| Names: | Dauntless; Banshee (A-24, rarely used) |
| First official flight: | (XBT-2) 22/04/1938 (SBD-1) 01/05/1940 |
| Factory production period: | 1940 - 1944 |
| Primary service period: | 1940 - 1944 |
| Last official flight: | (QF-24 / DF-24) 1950 |
DAUNTLESS VARIANTS
| 1940 | Model: ? | SBD-1 | 57 | |
| 1940 | Model: ? | SBD-2 | 87 | Total: 0144 |
| 1941 | Model: ? | SBD-3 | 585 | |
| 1941 | Model: ? | A-24 | 168 | Total: 0753 |
| 1942 | Model: ? | SBD-4 | 780 | |
| 1942 | Model: ? | A-24A | 170 | Total: 0950 |
| 1943 | Model: ? | SBD-5 | 2965 | |
| 1943 | Model: ? | SBD-5A | 60 | |
| 1943 | Model: ? | A-24B | 615 | Total: 3640 |
| 1944 | Model: ? | SBD-6 | 450 | Total: 0450 |
|
Grand Total: 5937 |
DAUNTLESS PRODUCTION
| XBT-2 | 1938, prototype carrier-based scout / dive bomber. Airframe a production Northrop BT-1 (BuNo. 0627, 55 built), heavily modified and redesignated as the XBT-2. Further modified by Douglas as the XSBD-1 (new c/n: 330). |
SBD-1
As XSBD-1, revised cowling, engine upgrade,
prop spinner, 3 guns (1 rear facing).
Produced 1940
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.1596 / 1631 | 549 / 584 | |
| BuNo.1735 / 1755 | 585 / 605 |
Total: 0057 |
SBD-2
As SBD-1, combat modifications, more fuel capacity.
Produced 1940 - 1941
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
|
BuNo.2102 / 2188 - 1 (2109), crashed before delivery. |
628 / 714 |
Total: 0087 |
SBD-3
As SBD-2, engine / armament (4 guns) upgrade.
Produced 1941 - 1942
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.4518 / 4568 | 751 / 801 | |
| BuNo.4569 / 4645 | 803 / 955 (odd numbers) | |
| BuNo.4646 / 4691 | 957 / 1002 | |
|
BuNo.2109 - Transferred to replace crashed SBD-2. |
1003 | |
| BuNo.03185 / 03384 | 1007 / 1206 | |
| BuNo.06492 / 06701 | mixed 1229 to 1516 | Total: 0585 |
| 18 to RNZAF as NZ5001 / NZ5018. | ||
A-24
USAAF version of the SBD-3, no arrester hook,
Larger tail wheel, US Navy designation SBD-3A.
Produced 1941 - 1942
Douglas El Segundo, California (DE)
| 41-15746 / 41-15823 | 802 / 956 (even numbers) | |
| 42-6682 / 42-6771 | mixed 1209 to 1526 |
Total: 0168 |
SBD-4
As SBD-3, prop / spinner upgrade, 24-volt electrical
system, minor changes.
Produced 1942 - 1943
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.06702 / 06991 | mixed 1547 to 2246 | |
| BuNo.10317 / 10806 | mixed 2247 to 2970 780 |
Total: 0780 |
| 27 to RNZAF as NZ5019 / NZ5045. | ||
A-24A
USAAF version of the SBD-4.
US Navy designation SBD-4A.
Produced 1942 - 1943
Douglas El Segundo, California (DE)
| 42-6772 / 42-6831 | mixed 1527 to 1811 | |
| 42-60772 / 42-60881 | mixed 1812 to 2728 |
Total: 0170 |
SBD-5
As SBD-4, cowling top intake deleted, engine upgrade,
greater fuel load, minor changes.
Produced 1943 - 1944
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.10807 / 11066 | mixed 2236 to 3405 | |
| BuNo.28059 / 29213 | 3406 / 4560 | |
|
BuNo.35922 / 36421 - 1 (35950), converted to an SBD-6. |
4561 / 5060 | |
| BuNo.36433 / 36932 | 5061 / 5560 | |
| BuNo.54050 / 54599 | 5564 / 6113 |
Total: 2965 |
| 23 to RNZAF as NZ5046 / NZ5068. | ||
SBD-5A
As A-24B, for USAAF but delivered to USMC.
Produced 1943 - 1944
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
|
42-60882 / 42-60941 Delivered to USMC as: BuNo.09693 / 09722 BuNo.09723 / 09752 |
3236 / 3265 3361 / 3390 |
Total: 0060 |
A-24B
USAAF version of the SBD-5.
US Navy designation SBD-5A.
Produced 1943 - 1944
Douglas Tulsa, Oklahoma (DT)
| 42-54285 / 42-54899 | 17124 / 17738 |
Total: 0615 |
| 585 additional airframes cancelled. | ||
SBD-6
As SBD-5, engine upgrade, greater fuel load, ASV radar.
1 (35950), converted from an SBD-5.
Produced 1944
Douglas El Segundo, California (D)
| BuNo.54600 / 55049 | 6114 / 6563 |
Total: 0450 |
SBD-6A - Prototype for a USAAF equivalent,
cancelled.
Selected prototype aircraft (35922) delivered as an SBD-5.
|
Grand Total: 5937 |
DAUNTLESS CONVERSIONS
US Navy
| SBD-1P | 8 | SBD-1, conversion for photo reconnaissance. |
| SBD-2P | 14 | SBD-2, conversion for photo reconnaissance. |
| SBD-3P | 43 | SBD-3, conversion for photo reconnaissance. |
| XSBD-6 | 1 | SBD-5(28830), 1943, factory converted prototype for the SBD-6. |
USAAF / USAF
| RA-24 | 1+ | A-24, 1942, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| RA-24A | 1+ | A-24A, 1942-1948, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| (F-24A) | 1+ | 1948-1950, redesignation of the RA-24A. |
| (QF-24A) | 1 | F-24A(42-6783), 1948, radio-controlled drone, assigned s/n: 48-044. |
| RA-24B | 1+ | A-24B, 1943-1948, redesignation as "restricted" from combat. |
| (F-24B) | 1+ | 1948-1950, redesignation of the RA-24B. |
| (DF-24B) | 1 | F-24B, 1948, drone control aircraft, assigned s/n: 48-045. |
British RAF / Royal Navy
| Dauntless DB.Mk. I |
9 |
SBD-5, 1944-1945, to RAF/ RN for
evaluation. Assigned RAF s/n: JS997 / JS999, JT923 / JT928. |
FOREIGN MILITARY SERVICE
- SBD's used by French and Mexican Air Forces during and after WW2.