Was the Helldiver a good plane?
Among its major faults, the Helldiver was underpowered, had a shorter range than the SBD, was equipped with an unreliable electrical system, and was often poorly manufactured. The Curtiss-Electric propeller and the complex hydraulic system had frequent maintenance problems.
What was the best ww2 dive bomber?
Douglas SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was sturdy enough for pilots to dive at a near-vertical 80 degrees. The US Navy’s primary dive-bomber at the war’s start, the bomber earned its reputation—and helped earn victory—at the 1942 Battle of Midway, sinking four Japanese carriers.
Who was the best dive bomber pilot of ww2?
Richard Halsey Best
Richard Halsey Best (March 24, 1910 – October 28, 2001) was a dive bomber pilot and squadron commander in the United States Navy during World War II….
| Richard Halsey Best | |
|---|---|
| Service/branch | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1932–1942 |
| Rank | Lieutenant commander |
| Battles/wars | World War II Pacific War Battle of Midway |
Who made the Helldiver?
Curtiss-Wright
Canadian Car and FoundryFairchild Aircraft Ltd.
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver/Manufacturers
The Curtiss SBC Helldiver was a two-seat scout bomber and dive bomber built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. It was the last military biplane procured by the United States Navy. Delivered in 1937, it became obsolete even before World War II and was kept well away from combat with Axis fighters.
Could the Japanese have won midway?
win or lose at Midway, it was extremely unlikely that the Japanese were going to win. FDR vetoed this approach—enabled, in part, by the American victory at Midway, which established that existing Allied forces in the Pacific could take on Japan. Defeat at Midway would have argued the opposite.
What 2 pilots hit multiple carriers in one day?
If you’ve seen the new epic World War II movie “Midway,” you know the story of dive bomber pilot Dick Best. A caption at the end of the movie [SPOILER ALERT] reveals that Best was one of only two pilots to score multiple hits on a Japanese carrier in a single day.
What plane did Richard Best fly?
Richard Best, 91; Pilot Helped to Sink 2 Japanese Carriers in Battle of Midway. Richard H. Best, a former Navy bomber pilot who scored hits on two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers sunk in the critical Battle of Midway during World War II, has died. He was 91.
What does helldiver mean?
helldiver. / (ˈhɛlˌdaɪvə) / noun. US informal a small greyish-brown North American grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, with a small billAlso called: pied-billed grebe, dabchick.