CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER

Some aircraft have a laboured beginning and an equally troubled adolescence which they struggle to overcome the whole of their operational life. The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was no exception.

Designed to replace the carrier-launched highly successful but ageing Douglas SBD Dauntless, the Helldiver whilst being much faster than the SBD, was significantly larger and far heavier.

The Helldiver’s development, early testing and initial deployment were plagued with design and stability issues largely centred around its small tail plane and rudder, shortened fuselage and underpowered engine.

Early pilots found it extremely difficult and temperamental to fly and a number of early prototypes simply broke up in flight initiating a scathing government review of its poor design and inadequate flight characteristics.

Curtiss went back to the drawing board and the tailplane and rudder were enlarged providing greater directional control, the fuselage lengthened for increased longitudinal stability and the engine re-powered with the new R-25600 Twin Cyclone 1900hp engines and the 3 bladed prop replaced with a four.

The new SBD 2C versions were introduced in early 1944 and saw action in the Marianas, Philippines, Iwo Jima and Okinawa campaigns and were partly responsible for the sinking of the Japanese battleship the Yamato.

Although designed with an enclosed bomb bay to facilitate the carrying of heavier ordinance, operational experience found that the USN’s Grumman F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsairs could carry an equally heavy bomb load whilst also vastly more capable of defending themsleves against enemy fighters.

But to give the Helldiver its due, its initial design as a dive bomber still proved highly successful, enabling the two seater aircraft to deliver its payload with pinpoint accuracy and its operational range was far beyond that of the single seat fighters - a critical requirement for any carrier-launched attack aircraft.

By the end of the war in the Pacific over 7140 SB2C’s had been built and a number were also operated by the Australian forces who like their US counterparts, struggled with their poor handling and soon returned them to the US with the introduction of the marinised Bristol Beaufighter. 

The French continued on through the early to mid 1950s operating the Helldiver as a ground support and attack aircraft during the First Indochina War.

All SB2C Helldiver Instruments listed below come complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

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  CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER WWII SLOTE & KLEIN AN-48440-1 FLYING HELMET WITH 'BLUE GLASS LENS' SEESALL FLYING GOGGLES

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  CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER VINTAGE PARKER P4CA MANUAL FUEL PRIMER PUMP

  Incredible, vintage Curtiss SBDC, Parker Cleavland fully functioning manual fuel...

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  CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE GAUGE

  BU Aero US Navy 88-1-12650 Weston Electric, Curtiss SB2C Helldiver,...

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  CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER BENDIX - SCINTILLA MAGNETO IGNITION SWITCH

  Rare and original, Curtiss SB2C Heklldiver 1125-10 USN Bendix Scintilla...

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  CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER CARBURETOR TEMPERATURE GAUGE

  Rare SB2C Helldiver Weston Electric Inst Corp 115412 T-52H, Carburetor...

  $520.00

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  CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER RADIO ALTITUDE INDICATOR

  Rare Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, General Electric Radio Altitude Indicator

  $830.00

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  CURTISS SB2C HELLDIVER, USN BU AERO, GENERAL ELECTRIC MKV RPM GAUGE

  BU Aero USN Mk V, Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, RPM Gauge

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