Hobby Master 1:72 Air Power Series HA0163
Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless Diecast Model
USMC VMSB-232, Ewa Beach, HI, December 7th 1941 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless | | 5.5" | | 7" |
On December 7, 1941 when Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japan SBD-2 White "2-B-6" like all other aircraft was lined up so they could easily be protected from sabotage. White "2-B-6" was one of two spare former USS Lexington SBD-2s assigned to VMSB-232 and still wearing its USN markings. When the Japanese aircraft arrived over the field and found the U.S. aircraft all bunched up it was shooting fish in a barrel. They bombed and strafed everything in sight. After the initial shock Master Technical Sergeant Emil S. Peters ran to SBD-2 White "2-B-6" that had been parked behind the squadron's tent. Peters opened the rear cockpit and climbed in and released the .30 caliber Machine Gun. Private William G. Turner gathered some ammunition belts and came to assist MTS Peters by feeding him the belts. According to witnesses the two managed to shoot down at least two of the attacking aircraft and for a time held several others at bay. Eventually the Japanese grew tired of this and two Japanese aircraft concentrated their fire on the SBD. The aircraft was riddled with 7.7 mm bullets wounding both men. MTS Peters suffered non-life threatening wounds but Private Turner who had been standing on the wing fell mortally wounded to the ground. Both men were awarded the Bronze Star for their combat heroism.
First flown in 1938, The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the United States Navy's main dive-bomber during World War II. The Dauntless featured "Swiss cheese" flaps-dive brakes punched with 3-inch holes, which helped it achieve pinpoint accuracy when diving to the target. The cockpit accommodated the pilot, who doubled as the bombardier and manned a fixed-forward gun. The rear cockpit contained a machine gun and played a major defensive role. During the Battle of Midway, SBD dive-bomber attacks fatally damaged all four of the Japanese aircraft carriers, and heavily damaged two cruisers. © Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Hobby Master's 1:72 scale SBD Dauntless is constructed almost entirely from diecast metal, with plastic components used to achieve maximum detail. The large bird-cage style canopy has fine rivet details and is removable for an unobstructed view of the cockpit with pad-printed instrumentation, direction finding antenna and rear gunner station with machine gun. The swing arm that cradles the center mounted bomb is positionable and can be displayed in the pre-launch configuration. Some releases feature perforated dive brakes that are either fixed in the closed position or in the deployed position, and some include under-wing mounted bombs and antenna. Variants in the series include both early and later versions.
© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" range presents detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft.
Hobby Master "1:72 Air Power Series" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
