Ford III was attempting a landing on the training carrier USS Wolverine. On January 20th, 1944 the aircraft met with the mishap that would see it preserved for 50 years on the bottom of Lake Michigan. 36175 was transferred quickly into a training role to support new pilots receiving their initial carrier qualifications. We are able to follow the aircraftвЂ™s journey through its Navy records that track its wartime service. Our SBD-5 was Bureau Number (BuNo) 36175 and was accepted for Navy service on October 4, 1943. The HiryЕ« would be disabled later in the same day. The Akagi, Kaga and SЕЌryЕ« were hit and disabled within the span of just 6 minutes. During the Battle of Midway in June 1942, Dauntlesses would deliver fatal blows to all four Japanese fleet carriers that were present. Flown by squadrons of US Navy and US Marine Corps pilots from land bases as well as aircraft carriers, the Dauntless was the principal American dive bomber through much of the war, being replaced by the SB2C Helldiver in mid-1944. Introduced in 1940, the Dauntless was developed as a scout bomber, hence its SBD designation (Scout Bomber вЂ“ Douglas). Aircraft restorations are extensive, multi-year projects but this exhibit provides the public a rare opportunity to see the вЂњBeforeвЂќ state for themselves, alongside a number of our other WWII US Navy aircraft that have been fully restored.вЂќ вЂњOur Dauntless is being placed on display for a limited time largely as it was recovered from the Lake, to provide people the opportunity to see an important artifact in its pre-restoration condition. 'We are particularly excited to welcome an SBD Dauntless into the collection, it is one of the most famous US Navy aircraft of WWII, and it is a type that our visitors often ask about,' says Military Museum Director Keegan Chetwynd. The aircraft, which was located in 177 feet of water by A and T Recovery, is a time capsule that tells the story of the Naval Aviators training on the Great Lakes, as well as connecting us with the broader story of World War II in the Pacific. The exhibit is expected to be on display from Noon on March 1st until 5pm on March 31st at 1341 Princess Anne Rd, Virginia Beach, VA 23457 and is included with regular Museum admission. This particular Dauntless, BuNo 36175, was recovered from the bottom of Lake Michigan where it was lost during a training exercise in 1944. The Military Aviation Museum is pleased to announce that the most recent addition to the collection in Virginia Beach is a Douglas SBD Dauntless.

Dauntless aviation