Customer Reviews

SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 10)

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I enjoyed Mr. Tillman's book, but as an aviation "techno-nut" was a bit disappointed with this book's overall short length. I suppose that's the problem with this sort of work: it's an excellent introduction to the subject with plenty of supporting details, but for hardcore readers such as myself who want all the bureau numbers of the a/c involved, we always scream for more in depth coverage no matter what.

Despite appearing to damn this book with faint praise, I do recommend it highly to anyone who wants to know more about the development, deployment, and history of the venerable SBD. Mr. Tillman's experience in refurbishing an SBD years ago gives his writing a weight not always found in this sort of work, and his use of primary sources was very well done. In fact, this is mainly why I was upset with the shortness of this book: what he did write was so good, I wanted more.

Barrett Tillman, as usual, does an excellent job in describing his topic. However, the "Colour Plates" are very much off the mark. The only blue colors to be seen in the entire gallery are in the insignia of the aircraft. This is unfortunate, as the USN "tricolor" camoflague pattern (dark sea blue, intermediate blue, and insignia white) is shown in two differing shades of grey and one of offwhite. Personally, I find the tricolor pattern to be very attractive, so I was disappointed in this depiction. Further, the earlier pattern (blue grey topside color with light grey undersides) is depicted as two differing shades of grey. My copy of the book is not unique; I have viewed a different copy of this book, and it also has the same lack of authentic color in its "Colour Plates."

If you are looking for a book to provide examples for painting models, this is not for you. If you want a good read about the best dive bomber of World War II, then this will do fine.

The Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber was besides the German Ju-87 Stuka Dive Bomber, the most successful of its kind during WW-II. It inflicted irreparable damage to the Imperial Japanese fleet, during various key Pacific battles like The Coral Sea, Midway,the Mariana Islands, the Philippines,the Aleutians,etc. The Dauntless saw action in most battles of the Pacific. Former President George Bush,Sr. flew several missions in this workhorse of the U.S.Naval Air Forces and he was shot down once during one of those missions. The British and Free French also flew the Dauntless Dive Bomber in both the Pacific and European theatres.
Definitely an old classic and one of the most remarkable aircraft of World War II.