Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver
Childrens' Day 2018 at the National Aviation Museum of the Royal Thai Air Force
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. The SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced.
Crew nicknames for the aircraft included the Big-Tailed Beast (or just the derogatory Beast), Two-Cee and Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class (after its designation and partly because of its reputation for having difficult handling characteristics). Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier captains seemed to like it.
Delays marred its production—by the time the A-25 Shrike variant for the USAAF was deployed in late 1943, the Army Air Forces no longer had a need for a thoroughbred dive bomber. Poor handling of the aircraft was another factor that hampered its service introductions; both the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force cancelled substantial orders.
The Truman Committee investigated Helldiver production and turned in a scathing report, which eventually led to the beginning of the end for Curtiss. Problems with the Helldiver were eventually ironed out, and in spite of its early problems, the aircraft was flown through the last two years of the Pacific War with a fine combat record.
Source: Wikipedia
The Helldiver was developed in 1940 as a US naval dive-bomber. After some initial problems were solved, the Helldiver was judged to be a success and over 6000 were built for service from late 1943. The Helldiver was delivered to the Thai Navy in 1951. The six supplied had a short service life, retiring in 1955.
The Helldiver was able to attain a speed of 295mph on the power of a 1900hp Wright Cyclone R-2600 engine.
This Hellcat is painted a dark blue overall, with a white band around the rear fuselage. Just forward of this band is the number '4'. Sources quote the serial '3-4/97', US Navy identity Bu83410 and the construction number '366' for this aircraft.
Source: peterlewisdesign.tripod.com/thaimuseum/helldiver.htm
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver
Childrens' Day 2018 at the National Aviation Museum of the Royal Thai Air Force
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. The SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced.
Crew nicknames for the aircraft included the Big-Tailed Beast (or just the derogatory Beast), Two-Cee and Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class (after its designation and partly because of its reputation for having difficult handling characteristics). Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier captains seemed to like it.
Delays marred its production—by the time the A-25 Shrike variant for the USAAF was deployed in late 1943, the Army Air Forces no longer had a need for a thoroughbred dive bomber. Poor handling of the aircraft was another factor that hampered its service introductions; both the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force cancelled substantial orders.
The Truman Committee investigated Helldiver production and turned in a scathing report, which eventually led to the beginning of the end for Curtiss. Problems with the Helldiver were eventually ironed out, and in spite of its early problems, the aircraft was flown through the last two years of the Pacific War with a fine combat record.
Source: Wikipedia
The Helldiver was developed in 1940 as a US naval dive-bomber. After some initial problems were solved, the Helldiver was judged to be a success and over 6000 were built for service from late 1943. The Helldiver was delivered to the Thai Navy in 1951. The six supplied had a short service life, retiring in 1955.
The Helldiver was able to attain a speed of 295mph on the power of a 1900hp Wright Cyclone R-2600 engine.
This Hellcat is painted a dark blue overall, with a white band around the rear fuselage. Just forward of this band is the number '4'. Sources quote the serial '3-4/97', US Navy identity Bu83410 and the construction number '366' for this aircraft.
Source: peterlewisdesign.tripod.com/thaimuseum/helldiver.htm