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  SBD-3 Dauntless Bureau Number 03309 Tail S18
USN
USS Enterprise (CV-6)
VS-5

Aircraft History
Built by Douglas Aircraft Company in El Segundo. Constructors Number 1129. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as SBD-3 Dauntless bureau number 03309.

Wartime History
Assigned to USS Enterprise to squadron VS-5. This aircraft had no known nickname, tail number S18.

Mission History
On August 7, 1942 took off from USS Enterprise (CV-6) piloted by Ensign Robert C. Shaw with gunner Harold L. Jones an aircrew from VB-6 on a mission to support the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) landings on Tulagi. While orbiting the target, they were intercepted by A6M2 Zero pilot Saburo Sakai.

Harold L. Jones recalled:
“As the Zero coming directly in from astern was about 500 feet away, he started shooting,” recalled Jones. “Some of our gunners answered with their twin .30 caliber machine guns. Some gunners, including myself, could not bring our guns to bear on him without damaging our tails, but as the Zero turned to the right and pulled up to miss us, every gunner was shooting at him…he could have been only 100 feet away!”

The SBD returned to the carrier safely, but had sustained minor damage and was repaired and returned to service.

References
Thanks to Jim Sawruk and Henry Sakaida for additonal information

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Last Updated
February 27, 2022

 

Tech Info
SBD
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