Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA0175
Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless "Battle of Midway" BuNo 2013, flown by Major Lofton Henderson, VMSB-241, 4 June 1942
 
General Background
The Douglas “Dauntless” was the workhorse for the US Navy during the WWII. This “Slow but Deadly” dive-bomber was the only plane that had fight in every major Pacific conflicts. Although it had been considered obsolete in 1941 already, the Dauntless was used until 1944 and undertook the last major conflict in the Battle of Philippine Sea. A total of 5,936 SBDs were produced in WWII.
 
The Aircraft 
On June 4, 1942 eleven SB2U-3 Vindicators and sixteen SBD-2 Dauntless of VMSB-241 departed Midway to attack approaching Japanese aircraft carriers. They SBDs were first to arrive on target and began to attack the carriers Kaga, Hiryu, Akagi and Soryu. The Dauntless were met by Japanese A6M2 Zeros and with Major Lofton Henderson’s SBD-2 leading the attack on the Hiryu he was the first target for the Zeros. Witnesses saw his aircraft wing burst into flames but he continued his attack. Henderson as well as gunner Pfc Lee Reininger perished.