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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Engine cowling & Wright
R-1820-52 Cyclone engine
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Close-up of crankcase and
propeller
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Carburetor air intake
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Oil
cooler intake |
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Port
wheel well, looking inward
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Upper
end of port gear strut |
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Underwing
stiffeners and port catapult bridal hook |
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Underside
of cowling |
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Port
gear strut from behind
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Top
of port gear strut, outer wing attachment point and gun camera window |
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Port
bomb shackle looking out |
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Port
bomb shackle from front quarter |
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Antenna
mast attachment point
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Antenna
mast |
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Cockpit
and windshield |
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Gunner's
canopy in open position (stacked) |
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Rear
gun mount, port side
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Non-skid
walkway, port (starboard is identical) |
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Rear
gun mount |
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Colored
recognition lights under center fuselage (red, blue, yellow: front to
rear) |
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