Labor of Love – SBD-5 Dantless

The Men. Dave Jamrog has been very busy over the winter. Along with Bob Kovacs assistance, they have been hard at work on the SBD-5 Dauntless three days a week since November.  Dave’s passion for the Dauntless comes from his father Don. Don flew on in the rear seat of the Dauntless in the south pacific. In have rear seat of the Dauntless Don navigated, manned the radios and was the rear facing gunner.

The Airplane. The DBD-5 Dauntless was built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1940 to 1944. The SBD (“Scout Bomber Douglas”) was the United States Navy’s main carrier borne scout plane and dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944.  The SBD was also flown by the United States Marine Corps, both from land air bases and aircraft carriers. The SBD is best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1042. The SBD carried two 100# bombs under the wings and one 1000# bomb under the fuselage. It also had two .50 caliber guns in the nose and two .30 caliber guns at the rear of the cockpit.

The Model. SBD-5 Dauntless Scout and Dive Bomber. Plans by Nick Ziroli, Wing Span: 100”, Weight: 30lbs, Engine: DLE60cc, Robart Electric Retracts Flaps and Dive Brakes, Three Bomb Releases.

Dave is hoping to have his SBD completed and ready to fly later this summer.

-JohnRusscher