The Helldiver was designed to replace the Douglas SBD
Dauntless; The helldiver was much larger aircraft and capable of
carrying a large payload and heavily armed. It could operate form the new US aircraft
carriers It was designed for both the US Marines and United States Army Air
Forces, It was designed for multitude of rolls. The first prototype flew
in December 1940 and later crashed in February 1941. This second prototype
version was also lost when in December 1941 the Helldiver pulled out of a dive
and the starboard wing and tail plane failed catastrophically. The helldiver
went into l arge-scale production had already been ordered on 29 November
1940,
Mission Beyond Darkness by Robert Taylor
Following the attack against Admiral Ozawas Japanese carrier fleet on June 20, 1944, Admiral Mitscher defies all rules of naval engagement: In total darkness, with the ever-present danger of enemy submarines, he orders every ship in his Task Force 58 to switch on lights to guide over 100 returning carrier-borne aircraft, all desperately low on fuel. Amid the confusion, unable to get a landing slot aboard the USS Lexington, and now out of fuel, a pilot and his gunner scramble from their ditched SB2B Curtiss Helldiver, as a Fletcher class destroyer manoeuvres to make the pick up.
Item Code : DHM2058
Mission Beyond Darkness by Robert Taylor - Editions Available
