Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series
HA0173
SBD-3 Dauntless "Lt. Richard Best"
VB-6, USS Enterprise, 4th June, 1942
"Battle of Midway"

Designed as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, various versions of the Dauntless
served workhorse of the US Navy in the Pacific. The Dauntless dive-bomber was the only plane
to fight in every major Pacific engagement. The SBD-3,
sarcastically nicknamed “Speedy Three”, entered service in March 1941 with production ending
in July 1944, by which time a total of 5,936 had been built in all versions.

Aircraft BuNo. 4687 from the USS Enterprise (The Big E) (CV-6) was flown by the Lt. Richard H.
Best, commanding officer of VB-6. On June 4, 1942 while flying Black B-1 from Bombing Six, Best
and Murray took part in two sorties that day. The first mission took place in the morning against
the IJNS Akagi and Kaga. In the afternoon they helped with the sinking of IJNS Hiryu. During the
operation Best inhaled caustic fumes from a faulty oxygen bottle damaging his lungs and forcing
him into early retirement from active duty.

SBD-3 specifications

Dimensions:
Length: 32 ft., 8 in.
Height: 13 ft., 7 in.
Wingspan: 41ft., 6 in.

Weight:
Empty: 6,345 lb.
Gross: 10,400 lb.

Power Plant:
One 1,000 horsepower Wright R-1820-52 engine

Performance:
Maximum Speed: 250 M.P.H.
Maximum Range with Bomb Load: 1,345 miles
Service Ceiling: 27,100 ft.

Crew:
Pilot and gunner/radio operator

Armament:
Two fixed forward-firing .50-in. guns,
Two flexible-mounted rear-firing .30-in. guns,
1,200 lb. of ordnance

1/72 scale pre-finished.

Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic.

Professionally painted.

All markings are pad applied for superb results.

Crew figure.

Comes with display stand.

Landing gear can be displayed up or down.

Extremely sought after by collectors.

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