The aircraft was simply built wrong. The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was built to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless, a World War II dive bomber that had earned praise for its performance—particularly ...

Before the end of the war, the SBD Dauntless would be phased out in favor of the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. But, replaced or not, the SBD Dauntless’ contributions to America’s ultimate victory ...

Between 1943 and 1945, over 7,000 SB2C Helldivers were built ... of pilots and aircraft commanders alike. The Helldiver was much larger than the Dauntless, and improved, in theory, for its ...