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Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless 11x17 inch print signed and dated by artist  The most famous U.S. Navy bomber of World War II, the Douglas SBD Dauntless, was possibly the most important dive bomber flown against the Japanese fleet during its reign. The Dauntless was the only U.S. aircraft to participate in all five naval engagements that were fought exclusively between aircraft carriers, and despite having been marked for retirement even before the war began, the Dauntless sunk more enemy ships during 1942 than all other aircraft combined. This aircraft that was already considered as obsolete destroyed the cream of the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet during the battle of Midway, a blow from which the imperial Japanese navy never recovered. This bomber was the mainstay of the naval air arsenal until its replacement by the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver beginning in 1944. The SBD-5’s saw combat in large numbers, quickly replacing older models during the course of 1943. It was the SBD-5 that inventoried the fleet’s attack squadrons when the fleet carriers resumed their raiding during the latter half of 1943. The SBD-5 became the main production variant between February 1943 and April 1944. Douglas also produced 615 aircraft for the Army under the designation A-24B. Sixty of the A-24’s were later declared surplus by the Army, taken over by the Navy. They were eventually turned over to the Marine Corps.
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11x17 inch Signed and dated by artist
Grumman F6F Hellcat
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Little did designers know when developing an aircraft to replace the aging F4F Wildcat, that their design would be responsible for over 75 percent of the U.S. Navy's aerial victories over the enemy. The advanced fighter design would incorporate a more powerful engine, increased range, and a better landing gear. These advances, along with better armament, were required in order to out perform the Japanese Zeke fighter. Pilots found the Hellcat straight- forward, rugged and reliable, unlike the opinions of the F4U Corsair pilots. Navy and Marine Corps pilots had no trouble engaging the Zekes and felt it was superior in all aspects except in the area of maneuver-ability. The design of the F6F Hellcat was so exact that it was the only allied fighter that remained virtually unchanged during its entire production run. The F6F-5 series had remarkably few variants and was used as the Navy's night fighter and photo reconnaissance platform. |
Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress
11x17 inch print
signed and dated by artist
By far the most famous U.S. bomber aircraft of WWII was the B-17. This platform was stable, strong, dependable, and a joy to fly, say the pilots of the Eighth Air Force. The turbo-supercharged engines allowed this bomber to fly at high altitudes where brave crews performed daylight, aerial, precision bombings against Europe and Japan. The thirteen plus guns gave it the name "Fortress", a must in order to perform the daylight missions ordered to perform.
The bomber underwent many modifications before wars' end. Its ruggedness in surviving enemy aircraft and artillery damage, then to return home, propelled the aircraft's reputation as being the favorite among crews. Photos and war stories of this war torn giant circulated and its iconic status elevated rapidly. The legendary status of a proven war machine was born.