These photos were taken of the Kalamazoo Air Zoo's
SBD-3 Dauntless.
This aircraft, BuNo.
06624 was one of a number of SBDs lost during training in the Great Lakes aboard
the paddlewheel carriers Wolverine and Sable. It was stricken on September
19, 1943 when the pilot trainee accidentally switched to a dry fuel tank, lost
power on landing, boltered and went over the side into Lake Michigan. It
was recovered in the early 1990s, and placed on loan to the Kalamazoo Aviation
History Museum (Air Zoo) for restoration by the National Museum of Naval
Aviation. Research into the aircraft showed that it has served with the
VS-41 "Tophatters" aboard the USS Ranger (CV-4) and had flown bombing
missions in support of the Operation Torch landings in Algeria. The Air
Zoo's restoration staff chose to finish the aircraft in the markings it wore
at that time. For more information on the aircraft and its restoration,
visit www.airzoo.org
Stewart Bailey
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Tail
antenna mast
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Solid
rubber tail wheel |
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Tail
hook point (not the rubber bump strip on the underside of the fuselage) |
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Elevator
trim tab actuator, underside starboard stabilizer
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Starboard
side of cockpit, aft
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Stick
and floorboard |
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Cockpit
cowl with telescopic bomb sight and compass |
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Stick
and rudder pedals |
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Aircraft
data plate on port side of roll-over structure
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Gunner's
station looking forward |
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Gunner's
basic flight instruments and radio |
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Twin
.30 cal. gun mount showing ammo feed |
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Tire
(port)
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Starboard
.50 cal. machine gun |
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Port
.50 cal. machine gun |
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Forward
fuselage |
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Wright
R-1820-52 Cyclone engine
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before
restoration |
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before
restoration
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before
restoration |
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before
restoration
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