Douglas SBD Dauntless radioman/gunner

摘要

In a role unique to the two-seat dive-bomber, the Douglas SBD Dauntless's gunners flew downhill and backwards into battle, aiming to protect themselves and their fellow crews long enough for their pilots to strike a decisive blow. By being the robust and effective type in the right place at the right time, the Dauntless became one of the decisive aircraft of the Second World War. Although placement of its bomb was paramount, the vital role of the radioman/gunner in enabling the pilot to survive to hit the target is often ignored, but it was not overlooked by the SBD's pilots.