Orders were placed by the US Marine
Corps and US Navy for the SBD Dauntless in April of 1939 to satisfy the
need for a new dive bomber. The Marine Corps orders were filled first
with the SBD-1 models, followed by the Navy order of SBD-2s. The most
numerous of the Dauntless were the SBD-5s. The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm
and Mexico both ordered the SBD-5 models, although these never saw
service with Britain or Mexico. The US Army also received the Dauntless
and dubbed it the A-24 Banshee. The A-24s were never popular with the
Army pilots and most of them were kept in training roles. This
Dauntless is an SBD-5 that is owned and operated by the Planes of Fame
museum in Chino.
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