Military Aviation Museum Welcomes SBD Dauntless

OD/NG · **Joined:** Fri Dec 16, 2016 1:36 pm **Posts:** 746

bdk wrote:

The ailerons were built from scratch. Maybe they misheard/misinterpreted.

Bdk - a few questions for you regarding the POF SBD wing:

1) Where was it sourced from?

2) Which model of SBD/A-24 was it from?

3) What kind of condition was it in prior to you guys restoring it?

4) How much work was required to make it airworthy, was it just reskinning or something more extensive? Did it require a jig to work on? Did it require a new wing spar?

5) Did the wing come from a combat veteran?

6) Do you have any pictures of what the wing looked like prior to restoration?

Thanks for answering these questions, as I've always wondered about these and have never seen them published in a public setting.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:48 pm

I think I remember something about the SBD at Yanks (also an ex-wind machine) has outer wings that came out of Guadalcanal. I think I saw an additional, unrestored outer wing there on display a few years ago.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:44 am

Planes of Fame
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/sbdregis ... 28536.html

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11319

Gaaaak! That was nearly 40 years ago! I just remember bucking a lot of rivets. Most of the skin was new, but I recall much of the inside was original. I remember there was damage to the center section (attached to the fuselage) from when MGM dropped it.

The link that Matt provided to the registry suggests they were from Guadalcanal. I do recall the "extra" Guadalcanal wing on display at Yanks. Their SBD was going together at about the same time.

OD/NG wrote:

bdk wrote:

The ailerons were built from scratch. Maybe they misheard/misinterpreted.

Bdk - a few questions for you regarding the POF SBD wing:

1) Where was it sourced from?

2) Which model of SBD/A-24 was it from?

3) What kind of condition was it in prior to you guys restoring it?

4) How much work was required to make it airworthy, was it just reskinning or something more extensive? Did it require a jig to work on? Did it require a new wing spar?

5) Did the wing come from a combat veteran?

6) Do you have any pictures of what the wing looked like prior to restoration?

Thanks for answering these questions, as I've always wondered about these and have never seen them published in a public setting.

Thomas_Mac · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2021 12:57 pm

Dan Jones wrote:

I think I remember something about the SBD at Yanks (also an ex-wind machine) has outer wings that came out of Guadalcanal. I think I saw an additional, unrestored outer wing there on display a few years ago.

I took this pic about 5 years ago of the one at Yanks, you can see the extra wing behind it.
https://yanksair.org/collection/douglas ... dauntless/

JohnB · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2021 3:56 pm

Matt Gunsch wrote:

OD/NG wrote:

I guess Air Classics got it wrong then?

You act like you're surprised ? they are known as air comics for a reason

As noted in subsequent postings, they likely misheard or misinterpreted the new ailerions.
Hey, they make mistakes, but I can't think of another American publication that has supported the warbird hobby/industry for so long.
Give 'em a break.

Matt Gunsch · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:10 pm

JohnB wrote:

Matt Gunsch wrote:

OD/NG wrote:

I guess Air Classics got it wrong then?

You act like you're surprised ? they are known as air comics for a reason

As noted in subsequent postings, they likely misheard or misinterpreted the new ailerions.
Hey, they make mistakes, but I can't think of another American publication that has supported the warbird hobby/industry for so long.
Give 'em a break.

as close as air comics is with the air museum, not likely, o'leary is probably the first one that knows what is happening there. They just prefer not to lets facts get in the way.

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Thu Mar 04, 2021 9:56 pm

How was it that a couple of sets of SBD wings got fished out of Guadalcanal? Was that part of the Tallichet cleanup from the mid-seventies?

raconnel · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2021 1:24 pm

I went by the museum to see the SBD today.

Interesting scuff pattern.

Richard

AG pilot · **Joined:** Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:13 am **Posts:** 551

Very nice photos, and thank you for posting them here!

ErrolC · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2021 5:23 pm

So hopefully I get to see the fuselage progress!

https://www.facebook.com/MilitaryAviati ... 97/?type=3

Quote:

The Fighter Factory has finalized the plan for the restoration of the Dauntless! Aircraft components will be split up to accelerate the project. The wings are going to be restored by the team at Aero Trader and the fuselage section is going to be dispatched to the dedicated team at Pioneer Aero of New Zealand!

http://www.pioneeraero.co.nz/2021/03/26 ... dauntless/

Quote:

Pioneer Aero are very proud to be asked by The Fighter Factory and Military Aviation Museum to carry out the restoration of the SBD-5 Dauntless B-22 Serial Number 36175. To be involved with this iconic aircraft is a big honour. We feel that the relationship that was forged between The Fighter Factory and Military Aviation Museum and Pioneer Aero Ltd with the restoration of the P-39 Airacobra was very positive and remains so to this day. This was demonstrated by Tom Kurtz III asking us if we wished to take on this restoration.
...
{Photos at link}

marine air · **Posted:** Sat Mar 27, 2021 11:50 am

The world needs another flyable Dauntless. As an enthusiast, I'll be happy with whatever paint scheme is chosen as long as the colors are accurate and documented for the scheme chosen. My vote is for the pre-war silver fuselage, yellow wings and other bright markings. Maybe pick one of the carriers that was later lost early in the war. Anyway, it's really great to see the Navy release one of their airframes.

marine air · **Posted:** Sat Mar 27, 2021 12:07 pm

delete

Jim MacDonald · **Posted:** Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:13 am

MAM's Facebook page states that the wings came from a Kevin Smith in California & he has been working on his own SBD restoration for many years or at least has been collecting parts for his restoration. Does anybody know anything about Mr. Smith or his SBD? Somehow he's flown under my radar, I haven't heard of him before or of an SBD restoration going on in Cali.

Thanks,

Mac

Zac Yates · **Posted:** Sun Mar 28, 2021 2:33 am

marine air wrote:

My vote is for the pre-war silver fuselage, yellow wings and other bright markings. Maybe pick one of the carriers that was later lost early in the war.

Forgive my ignorance, did SBD-5s wear silver and yellow? At any rate this airframe was four months old when it ditched on January 20, 1944.

Jim MacDonald wrote:

MAM's Facebook page states that the wings came from a Kevin Smith in California & he has been working on his own SBD restoration for many years or at least has been collecting parts for his restoration. Does anybody know anything about Mr. Smith or his SBD? Somehow he's flown under my radar, I haven't heard of him before or of an SBD restoration going on in Cali.

Thanks,

Mac

At some point during the webinar this morning (New Zealand time) I think Keegan Chetwynd or possibly Jerry said Kevin had been collecting parts for more than thirty years. I've seen a photo of him with a rear fuselage. Goodall has A-24B 42-54593 listed with Kevin R Smith of Fredericksburg since 1991 with the wings - NMNA lake recoveries, funnily enough - trucked to Chino for work 12/01...

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Military Aviation Museum Welcomes SBD Dauntless

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