Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless – Howard Young, Commander USS Enterprise Air Group, US Navy 1942

Hobby Master 1/72 scale HA0176: Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless, Howard Young, US Navy 1942. Production run of 600 models. With superb looking photo etched extended dive brakes.

Length 5.5 inches Wingspan 7 inches

Howard Young’s first encounter with the Japanese was on December 7, 1941 when U.S. aircraft returning from Wake Island met the Japanese attackers at Pearl Harbour. In February 1942, under Young’s command, Air Group Six made the first attack on Japanese held territory. Young took part in raids on the Marshall and Gilbert Islands and later the Marcus and Wake Islands. His actions of leading two successful raids on February 1, 1942 earned Young the DFC. In April 1942 he was promoted to Carrier Air Group Commander.

First flown in 1938, The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the United States Navy’s main dive-bomber during World War II. The Dauntless featured “Swiss cheese” flaps-dive brakes punched with 3-inch holes, which helped it achieve pinpoint accuracy when diving to the target. The cockpit accommodated the pilot, who doubled as the bombardier and manned a fixed-forward gun. The rear cockpit contained a machine gun and played a major defensive role. During the Battle of Midway, SBD dive-bomber attacks fatally damaged all four of the Japanese aircraft carriers, and heavily damaged two cruisers.