Diecast Aircraft Information

MetalWings Diecast Aircraft Reference by Dauntless Aviation

Hobby Master 1/32 PREMIUM COLLECTION Air Power Series
HA0205
Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless"
BuNo 4690, flown by Lt(jg) Stanley W. Vejtasa
and Radioman Frank B. Wood
USS Yorktown (CV 5), 8 May 1942
Capt. Vejtasa's signature plate on metal stand base
Limited Edition of 300 with COA

Premium Collection
1/32 Scale airplanes
Limited Edition only 300 world-wide
Features

Movable rear gun
Working dive brakes, rudder & ailerons
Rotating metal propeller
Optional transparent engine cowling
Sliding canopy
Retractable undercarriage
Rolling wheels
Movable centerline bomb rack
Crew figures

L - 12.4 in (315mm)
W - 15.75 in (400mm)
H - 4.8 in (122mm)
Weight - 1.98 lb (900g)

Designed as a light bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, various versions of the
Dauntless served during the war with the US Marine Corps, Army and Navy. The Douglas
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.

On May 8, 1942 in retaliation for a U.S. task force attack on the Japanese carriers
Shokaku and Zuikaku, aircraft from these two carriers attacked the USS Lexington and
USS Yorktown. As part of the U.S. defense eight SBD-3 scouting crews from VS-5 on
board USS Yorktown were assigned to low-level anti-torpedo patrol. During the encounter
4 of the SBD-3’s were shot down by Zeros with the loss of these crews. However, SBD-3
BuNo.4690 “Black S-10” piloted by Lt(jg) S. Vejtasa and Radioman/Gunner 3rd Class F.
B. Wood was flown so aggressively that the Zeros never had a straight clean shot at
them. In turn “Black S-10” was credited with 3 destroyed and Vejtasa was awarded the
Navy Cross and would earn a second one at Santa Cruz in October 1942.

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

OPTIONAL TRANSPARENT
ENGINE COWLING

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