SBD Dauntless aerial victories

JCFalkenbergIII · #1 (**permalink**) March 12th, 2008, 05:37 PM

In the thread I created about Most overrated Aircraft the subject came up about divebombers. It reminded me about the Air to Air victories attained by the SBD Dauntless. Heres a few snippets of info.On 20 Feb 42 a SBD from VS-2 operating off the USS Lexington scored an aerial victory against the Japanese. It shot down a G4M1 bomber. Another SBD finished off another G4M1 that had been damaged by a F4F Wildcat. Some SBDs were also used for Combat Air Patrol work too. Also LtJG John Leppla and his aviation radioman/gunner John Liska are credited with having downed 7 enemy aircraft during the Battle of the Coral Sea on May 8th, 1942, while flying scout duty in their SBD-3. Some accounts put the total at 5 aircraft.The SBD was credited with 138 victories in air-to-air combat. The breakdown was 107 fighters and 31 bombers; carrier-based SBDs destroyed 75 fighters and 31 bombers; land-based SBDs destroyed 32 fighters and 0 bombers.

PzJgr · #2 (**permalink**) March 12th, 2008, 08:13 PM

Who did they run into...............................Actually I am surprised at them achieving any kind of air to air victories. That is kind of like saying that the Stuka had racked some air victories.

JCFalkenbergIII · #3 (**permalink**) March 12th, 2008, 08:18 PM

More info from a friend of mine

.

The breakdown of victories by year for carrier-based SBD victories was:

1941/42 - 88
1943 - 13
1944 - 5

and

USN/USMC confirmed victories for non-fighter aircraft (not including the SBD's 138) - I suspect that most of these were also credited to gunners:

PB4Y Liberator/Privateer - 306
TBF/TBM Avenger - 98
SB2C/SBW Helldiver - 43
PV Ventura - 20
PBM Mariner - 16
PBY Catalina - 9
PB2Y Coronado - 8
TBD Devastator - 6
SB2U Vindicator - 6

JCFalkenbergIII · #4 (**permalink**) March 13th, 2008, 08:17 PM

Im surprised at the number for the PB4Y Liberator/Privateer!

TA152 · #5 (**permalink**) March 14th, 2008, 05:56 AM

I am sure those aircraft shot down a few enemy aircraft but the numbers sound a bit padded to me. Sorta like the body counts in Viet Nam !
TBD Devastator's got shot down. Perhaps a formation shot down one plane and all six took credit for the lucky hit ?

I would think B-29's would have lots of shoot downs but the others sound too good to be true.

No reflection on you JC ! You can't hit home runs everytime.

JCFalkenbergIII · #6 (**permalink**) March 14th, 2008, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TA152

I am sure those aircraft shot down a few enemy aircraft but the numbers sound a bit padded to me. Sorta like the body counts in Viet Nam !
TBD Devastator's got shot down. Perhaps a formation shot down one plane and all six took credit for the lucky hit ?

I would think B-29's would have lots of shoot downs but the others sound too good to be true.

No reflection on you JC ! You can't hit home runs everytime.

No prob. Though I usually take claims with a grain of salt this information came from a good friend of mine. Ill have to see where he came by the info. He did state that these were "USN/USMC confirmed victories" so there must be records of them somewhere.

Falcon Jun · #7 (**permalink**) March 14th, 2008, 08:18 AM

You did mention that some of those shot down by these aircraft were already damaged by their escorting fighters, making the shoot downs plausible.

Though the shoot down claims could be exaggerated, it's not entirely impossible for a gunner in a Catalina to shoot down another aircraft.
My dad told me once "Once the bullets start flying, there's no such thing as a bullet with your name on it. All of them are labeled To Whom It May Concern."

I believe him not just because he's my dad. He trained in the SAS Jungle Warfare School in Malaysia and the US Army's Special Warfare School in Fort Bragg, saw action in Indonesia and Mindanao. The Huey he was on once was shot down and I had to visit him as a kid at V. Luna military hospital.

He, along with my aunts and uncles, related stories of their refugee column being strafed by Japanese planes. Everybody just ran looking for cover because nobody can tell whether they were going to get hit or not.

Slipdigit · #8 (**permalink**) March 14th, 2008, 01:24 PM

Cook Cleland, SBD Dive bomber

I would have copied and pasted the story but the webmaster disabled that (although I know how to get around it). But I won't post it here as apparently they doesn't want it done.

He shot down a Betty and Zero.

JCFalkenbergIII · #9 (**permalink**) March 16th, 2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slipdigit

Cook Cleland, SBD Dive bomber

I would have copied and pasted the story but the webmaster disabled that (although I know how to get around it). But I won't post it here as apparently they doesn't want it done.

He shot down a Betty and Zero.

Thanks for the link Jeff

.

JCFalkenbergIII · #10 (**permalink**) March 20th, 2008, 03:32 AM

U.S.Navy Patrol Plane Aces of WW2

NAME VICTORIES SERVICE UNITS COMMENTS

Sutton, Sheldon L. 7 USN VPB-117 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944-45.
Porter, Neil C. 6 [4+2] USN VD3 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1943-44
Stevens, Paul F. 6 USN VPB-104 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944-45.
Bruneau, Paul J. 5 USN VB-115 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944.
Carter, Jan B. 5 USN VPB-117 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944-45.
Ganshirt, Paul A. 5 USN VD-3 PB4Y gunner, Pacific, 1943-44.
Hyland, Thomas J. 5 USN VPB-117 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1945.
McGaughley, Harold M. 5 USN VPB-117 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944-45. KIA.
Miller, William M. 5 [1+4] USN VPB-116 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944.
Moore, Daniel E. 5 USN VPB-117 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944-45.
Oliver, William B. 5 [1+4] USN VPB-116 PB4Y cdr, Pacific, 1944.
Thomas, Richard H. 5 USN VPB-117 PB4Y gunner, Pacific, 1944-45

Jan J. Safarik: Air Aces Home Page

TA152 · #11 (**permalink**) March 20th, 2008, 05:56 AM

The B-24's did well, now pull a rabbit out of your hat and give the TBD Devastator's victorys.

JCFalkenbergIII · #12 (**permalink**) July 4th, 2008, 06:37 PM

LOL Ill keep looking!! But I don't think Ill find any. Unless you are into "What If?'s LOL