SB2C Helldiver

Click the thumbnails to enlarge them

A formation of Curtiss SB2C-4E dive bombers on a training flight. over Ft. Lauderdale Florida 18 May 1945

First Curtiss A-25 serial 41-18774 in flight over Wright Field

A-25 Shrike 41-18774 in flight over Wright Field

Curtiss A-25 at Wright Field October 1942

A-25 Shrike at Wright Field October 1942

Assembly line at the Curtiss Wright plant in Columbus 13 September 1943

Burning Helldiver after crash landing on USS Randolph CV-15

Crashed SB2C-3 Helldiver aboard USS Ticonderoga 1944

Crashed Curtiss SB2C-3 aboard USS Ticonderoga CV-14 1944

SB2C-3 Helldiver #108 USS Ticonderoga CV-14 January 1945

Crashed SB2C-3 white 108 onboard USS Ticonderoga January 1945

First A-25 Shrike 41-18774 delivered for use by USAAF

Curtiss A-25A-1 Shrike serial 41-18774 delivered for use by USAAF

SB2C Helldiver aboard an escort carrier 1944 PTO

Curtiss SB2C aboard an escort carrier 1944 PTO

SB2C Helldiver ’63’ of VB-1 over the carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) on 26 July 1944

Curtiss SB2C of VB-1 over the carrier USS Yorktown on 26 July 1944

SB2C Helldiver white 114 with tail hook extended

Curtiss SB2C white 114 flying over aircraft carrier

SB2C 8-B-22 of VB-8 take off from USS Bunker Hill (CV-17)

Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver of VB-8 take off from USS Bunker Hill

Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver September 8, 1942

SB2C-1 Helldiver of VB-17 during approach for recovery aboard USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), Caribbean on 9 July 1943

Curtiss SB2C-1 of VB-17 during approach for recovery aboard USS Bunker Hill Caribbean on 9 July 1943

Curtiss SB2C-1C of VB-15 after recovery aboard the carrier USS Essex 20 May 1944

SB2C-1C Helldiver V43 during training flight

Curtiss SB2C-1C V43 BuNo 18251 in flight

Curtiss SB2C-1C white 68 Pagan Islands

SB2C-3 Helldiver white 6 of VB-87 in flight 12 October 1944

Curtiss SB2C-3 of VB-87 in flight 12 October 1944

Curtiss SB2C-3 of VB-87 in flight near NAS Wildwood New Jersey on September 28, 1944

SB2C-3 Helldiver white 29 on USS Ticonderoga 1944

Curtiss SB2C-3 on USS Ticonderoga (CV-14) 1944

SB2C-3 Helldiver of VB-20 preparing to take off from the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6)

Curtiss SB2C-3 white 3 of VB-20 USS Enterprise (CV-6)

SB2C-4 Helldiver of VJ-17 in flight near Guam 6 June 1945

Curtiss SB2C-4 of VJ-17 in flight near Guam 6 June 1945

SB2C-4E Helldiver white 80 of VB-85 aboard the carrier USS Shangri-La (CV-38) on March 13, 1945

Curtiss SB2C-4E of VB-85 aboard the carrier USS Shangri-La (CV-38) on March 13, 1945

Curtiss SB2C-5 974 in flight

SB2C-5 Helldiver of VB-10 in flight near ships of TF-72 during operations off the China coast on 30 September 1945

Curtiss SB2C-5 of VB-10 in flight near ships of TF-72 during operations off the China coast on 30 September 1945

SB2C-5 Helldiver white 114 of VB-150 from USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) in flight 23 June 1945

Curtiss SB2C-5 of VB-150 from USS Lake Champlain (CV-39) in flight 23 June 1945

SB2C-5 Helldiver coded T45 of VB-95 on elevator of the carrier Bunker Hill, October 1945

Curtiss SB2C-5 of VB-95 on elevator of the carrier Bunker Hill, October 1945

Curtiss XSB2C-1 BuNo 1758

Curtiss XSB2C-1 Helldiver

Curtiss XSB2C-1 Helldiver 1941

XSB2C-2 Helldiver seaplane 29 September 1942

Curtiss XSB2C-2 seaplane 29 September 1942

Curtiss XSB2C-6

Curtiss XSB2C-6 2

Damaged Helldiver '7' of VB-15 returns to USS Essex after Marcus Island raid May 20, 1944

Floatplane Curtiss XSB2C-2 29 September 1942

Formation of SB2C-1 Helldiver of VB-17 in flight 26 June 1943

Formation of SB2C-1 of VB-17 in flight 26 June 1943

Helldiver 1943 color photo

Helldiver from USS Shangri-La over Atsugi 28 August 1945

Helldiver in color

Helldiver named Grey Ghost

Helldiver Pilot Lt David Kinzer of CAG-1

Helldiver takes off from USS Independence CLV-22 August 1945

Curtiss SB2C and Avengers Saipan Invasion

Helldivers and Avengers during Saipan Invasion

Helldivers blast japanese ships at Haha Jima 1944

Helldivers bomb installations at Omura Kyushu 1945

SB2C Helldivers in flight over USS Ranger (CV-4) on April 12, 1945

Helldivers in flight over Ranger (CV-4) on April 12, 1945

SB2Cs of VB-8 NAS Norfolk fly over surrounding area December 1943

Helldivers of VB-8 NAS Norfolk fly over surrounding area December 1943

SB2C of VB-87 and TBM of VT-87 operating off the carrier USS Randolph in flight off the coast of Venezuela on December 4, 1944

Helldivers of VB-87 and TBM Avengers of VT-87 operating off the carrier USS Randolph (CV-15) in flight off the coast of Venezuela on December 4, 1944

Helldivers return to carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) after Raid on Guam July 1944

Lt Alvin Levenson SB2C pilot who fell 1500 ft to the ocean 1945

Lt Kenneth Anderson pilot of CAG-80 from USS Ticonderoga 1945

Lt Kenneth Anderson pilot of CAG 80 from USS Ticonderoga (CV-14)

Lt. Alvin Levenson examines his flak filled SB2C after returning to carrier from a strike on Kure 1945

Lt. Alvin Levenson examines his flak filled SB2C Helldiver

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver on the ground 1942/1943

Overhead view of SB2C-1 Helldiver on the ground 1942/1943

P-40 parked by A-25 Shrike 2CJ

Prototype XSB2C-1

SB2C Helldiver 43 over the Marshall Islands on October 23, 1945. Japanese cruiser Kashima and USS Throwhill DE-195 in the background

SB2C '43' over the Marshall Islands on October 23, 1945

Helldivers of VB-7 attacks Japanese Mogami class cruiser Leyte Gulf

SB2C from VB-7 attacks Japanese Mogami class cruiser Leyte Gulf

Curtiss SB2C ’15’ and TBM aboard USS Randolph (CV-15) during operations in the Western Pacific in May 1945

SB2C Helldiver aboard USS Randolph (CV-15) during operations in the Western Pacific in May 1945

Curtiss SB2C after crash lands on USS Randolph

SB2C Helldiver after crash lands on USS Randolph 1945

Curtiss SB2C from USS Franklin (CV-13) flying over Palau Island 1944

SB2C Helldiver from USS Franklin (CV-13) flying over Palau Island 1944

SB2C Helldivers and Corsairs in flight over carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)

SB2C Helldivers and F4U in flight over aircraft carrier USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CV-42)

SB2C Helldivers at St. Louis Missouri ready for delivery in June 1943

Damaged Curtiss SB2C Helldiver 15-B-25 of VB-15 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-12) – 2 January 1944

SB2C of VB-15 on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Hornet 2 January 1944

SB2C of VB-18 from USS Intrepid blasts Japanese ship at Balanacan Harbor

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver ‚9’ of VB-7 flying over USS Hancock (CV-19) off Formosa on 13 October 1944

SB2C of VB-7 flying over USS Hancock off Formosa on 13 October 1944

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver code 8-B-16 of VB-8 during a training flight 27 December 1943

SB2C of VB-8 during a training flight 27 December 1943

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver #211 over Japan 1945

SB2C over Japan 1945

SB2C-1 2

SB2C-1 3

SB2C-1 4

Curtiss SB2C-1 #35 VB-17 USS Bunker Hill, 11 September 1943

SB2C-1 Helldiver #35 VB-17 USS Bunker Hill

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bomber in flight

SB2C-1 Helldiver dive bomber in flight

Curtiss SB2C-1 coded 17-B-2 of VB-17 crashed during recovery aboard the carrier USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), Caribbean on 19 July 1943

SB2C-1 Helldiver of VB-17 crashed during recovery aboard the carrier USS Bunker Hill Caribbean on 19 July 1943

Curtiss SB2C-1 in tricolor scheme on the ground

SB2C-1 Helldiver on the ground

SB2C-1 Helldiver over carrier deck

SB2C-1 in flight

SB2C-1 July 1942

Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver on the ground probably at the Curtiss Wright factory in Buffalo 11 January 1943

SB2C-1 on the ground probably at the Curtiss Wright factory in Buffalo 11 January 1943

SB2C-1 rear view July 1942

SB2C-1 with wings folded up

Curtiss SB2C-1C Helldiver ’43’ of the VB-1 USS Yorktown (CV-10) over Chichi Jima on July 6 1944

SB2C-1C from VB-1 USS Yorktown (CV-10) over Chichi Jima on July 6 1944

SB2C Helldiver white 59 of the VB-18 on Peleliu, Fall 1944

SB2C-1C of the VB-18 on Peleliu, Fall 1944

Curtiss SB2C-1C Helldiver ‚6’ of VB-15 ready for launch from carrier USS Essex – 10 May 1944

SB2C-1C of VB-15 ready for launch from carrier USS Essex - 10 May 1944

SB2C-1C white 35 with tail hook extended

SB2C-1Cs 53K, 48K and 77K of VB-1 in flight near Hawaii in 1944

SB2C-1Cs of VB-1 in flight near Hawaii in 1944

SB2C-1Cs of VB-2 near Saipan during strikes in support of the invasion

SB2C-1Cs ’20’ and ’13’ of VB-8 lined up on deck of USS Bunker Hill (CV-17) awaiting the signal to launch for raid on Saipan in June 1944

SB2C-1Cs of VB-8 lined up on deck of USS Bunker Hill awaiting the signal to launch for raid on Saipan in June 1944

SB2C-1s B-36 and B-19 of VB-5 pictured on the flight deck of USS Yorktown (CV-10 )in 1943

SB2C-1s of VB-5 pictured on the flight deck of USS Yorktown in 1943

SB2C-3 of VB-7 return to USS Hancock 12 January 1945

SB2C-3 "112" of VB-7 return to USS Hancock 12 January 1945

SB2C-3 ’75’ of VB-19 on the flight deck of the carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) after returning from a combat mission in the Pacific on August 20, 1944

SB2C-3 Helldiver of VB-19 on the flight deck of the carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) after returning from a combat mission in the Pacific on August 20, 1944

SB2C-3 Helldiver ‚116’ of VB-17 maneuvers into position for launch from the carrier Hornet on February 16, 1945

SB2C-3 of VB-17 maneuvers into position for launch from the carrier Hornet (CV-12) on February 16, 1945

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver ’37’ of VB-6 pictured entagled in the barricade aboard USS Hancock (CV-19)

SB2C-3 of VB-6 pictured entagled in the barricade aboard USS Hancock

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver ‚103’ of VB-7 over ships of TF 38

SB2C-3 of VB-7 over ships of TF 38 following strike against Japanese shipping off the coast of French Indochina in January 1945

Curtiss SB2C-3 Helldiver white 17 of VB-7 USS Hancock during flight operations in 1944

SB2C-3 of VB-7 USS Hancock during flight operations in 1944

SB2C-3 Helldiver 82-B-33 of VB-82 after going over the side of the carrier USS Charger during training operations off the East Coast on 21 June 1944

SB2C-3 of VB-82 after going over the side of the carrier USS Charger (CVE-30) during training operations off the East Coast on 21 June 1944

SB2C-3s S12, S10 and S14 of VB-98 in formation near NAAS Ventura County on 23 September 1944

SB2C-3 of VB-98 in formation near NAAS Ventura County on 23 September 1944

SB2C-3 St Louis

SB2C-3 training

SB2C-3E Helldivers flying in formation

SB2C-4 20411 torpedo fitted with a wooden drag ring March 1945

SB2C-4 20411 carrying torpedo fitted with a wooden drag ring March 1945

SB2C-4 Helldiver of VB-12 coming in high during a recovery on board USS Randolph (CV-15) in 1945

SB2C-4 of VB-12 coming in high during a recovery on board USS Randolph (CV-15) in 1945

Curtiss SB2C-4E of VB-97 makes crash landing on aircraft carrier Shangri La (CV-38), 1945

SB2C-4E Helldiver of VB-97 makes crash landing on aircraft carrier Shangri La

Curtiss SB2C-4E Helldiver ’82’ of VB-85 flies near TF 38 arrayed in the background on 17 August 1945

SB2C-4E of VB-85 flies near TF 38 arrayed in the background on 17 August 1945

SB2C-4E Helldiver #209 of VB-87 strikes the barricade – USS Ticonderoga

SB2C-4E of VB-87 strikes the barricade during recovery on board the aircraft carrier USS Ticonderoga 10 August 1945

SB2C-5 83520

Curtiss SB2C-5 of VB-89 and F4U lined up for launch on the flight deck of the carrier USS Antietam (CV-36) on 14 August 1945

SB2C-5 Helldiver of VB-89 lined up for launch on the flight deck of the carrier USS Antietam 14 August 1945

SB2Cs return to USS Hancock 12 January 1945

SB2Cs 103 and 107 return to USS Hancock 12 January 1945

SB2Cs from USS Lexington (CV-16) over Iwo Jima on D-Day

Ships in the harbor at Hong Kong under attack by Helldivers

Curtiss A-25 Shrike 42-80194 with lowered bomb bay doors

U.S. Army Air Force A-25A-30-CS Shrike 42-80194 with lowered bomb bay doors

VB-1 pilot Lt Comdr Joseph Runyan by scoreboard on his SB2C 1944

VB-18 pilot makes final naviagation notes – USS Intrepid (CV-11)

VB-18 pilot makes final naviagation notes prior to manning his SB2C-3 Helldiver 'white 70' aboard USS Intrepid during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944

XSB2C-1 Helldiver in flight

XSB2C-2 January 1943

XSB2C-6 3

XSB2C-6 4

XSB2C-6 Helldiver January 17, 1945

SB2C Helldiver/A-25 Shrike was a carrier-based scout-dive bomber aircraft produced for the U.S. Navy during World War II. The prototype XSB2C-l made its first flight on December 18, 1940.

Variants and serials

XSB2C-1 - (Model 84, BuNo 1758) prototype powered by a 1700 hp (1268 kW) R-2600-8 engine, made its first flight on 18 December, 1940 SB2C-1 - (Model 84, BuNo 00001-00200) first production version for US Navy with 4 x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) wing guns and one 0.30 in (7.62 mm) dorsal gun, 200 built. First flight was on 30 June, 1942. SB2C-1A - 410 A-25As transferred to the USMC (BuNo 75218-75588, 76780-76818). SB2C-1C - (Model 84A) identical to the SB2C-1 except for the substitution of two 20 mm wing-mounted cannon in place of the four 12,7 mm machine-guns.SB2C-1 and hydraulically operated flaps. 778 built (BuNo 00201-00370, 01008-01208, 18192-18598). XSB2C-2 - (Model 84C) one twin-float seaplane. SB2C-2 - (Model 84D) planned float plane version, 350 cancelled and not built. XSB2C-3 - (Model 84E, BuNo 00008) one SB2C-1 re-engined with a 1900 hp (1417 kW) R-2600-20. SB2C-3 - (Model 84E) R-2600-20 engine and four-bladed propeller, 1112 built (BuNo 18599-19710). SB2C-3E - SB2C-3 fitted with APS-4 radar. SB2C-4 - (Model 84F) fitted with wing racks for eight 5 in (127 mm) rockets or 1000 lb (454 kg) bombs and improved by perforating the surfaces of the trailing-edge dive flaps. 1985 built (BuNo 19711-21191, 64993-65286, and 82850-83127). SB2C-4E - fitted with APS-4 radar for night operations. XSB2C-5 - (Model 84G, BuNo 65286) one SB2C-4 converted as prototype for SB2C-5 variant. SB2C-5 - (Model 84G) with increased fuel capacity, frameless sliding canopy, tailhook fixed in extended position, and deletion of the ASB radar, 970 built (BuNo 83128-83751, 89120-89465). XSB2C-6 - (Model 84H) Two SB2C-3s (18620 and 18621) fitted with 2100 hp (1566 kW) R-2600-22 engine and increased fuel capacity. XSB2C-6 had their fuselages lengthened and wingtips squared in an attempt to overcome directional stability problems. XSBF-1 - Canadian prototype SBF-1 - Canadian built version of the SB2C-1 (BuNo 31636-31685), 50 built by Fairchild-Canada SBF-3 - (BuNo 31686-31835) Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 150 built by Fairchild-Canada. SBF-4E - (BuNo 31836-31935) Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 100 built by Fairchild-Canada. SBW-1 - Canadian built version of the SB2C-1, 40 built (BuNo 21192-21231) by Canadian Car & Foundry company. SBW-1B - Canadian built version for lend-lease to the Royal Navy as the Helldiver I, 26 aircraft built by Canadian Car & Foundry company. SBW-3 - Canadian built version of the SB2C-3, 413 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company (BuNo 21233-21645). SBW-4E - Canadian built version of the SB2C-4E, 270 built by Canadian Car & Foundry company (serials 21646-21741 and 60036-60209). SBW-5 - Last Canadian built version of the SB2C-5, 86 built by the Canadian Car & Foundry company (BuNo 60210-60295). A-25A Shrike (Model 84B)- Army version without arrester gear or folding wings and radio equipment changed. Shrike also used larger wheels and revised armour. 900 built (10 for RAAF as A69-1 - A69-10) USAAF serials: A-25A-1-CS 41-18774 - 41-18783 A-25A-5-CS 41-18784 - 41-18823 A-25A-10-CS 41-18824 - 41-18873 and 42-79663 - 42-79672 A-25A-15-CS 42-79673 - 42-79732 A-25A-20-CS 42-79733 - 42-79972 A-25A-25-CS 42-79973 - 42-80132 A-25A-30-CS 42-80133 - 42-80462 Helldiver Mk I (JW100- JW125) - FAA designation for 26 SBW-1Bs

Design and Structure

Type: Two-seat dive-bomber.
Wings:
- Configuration: Low-wing cantilever monoplane with four sections. The center panel is in two portions bolted to the fuselage, and the outer wing sections can fold upward for storage.
- Structure: Two-spar stressed skin aluminum-alloy construction.
- Ailerons: Dynamically and statically-balanced, with upper surfaces of metal and lower surfaces covered with fabric.
- Flaps: Split perforated flaps operate both as dive brakes (opening upward and downward) and as landing flaps (lower flaps can operate alone when upper flaps are locked). Wing-tip slats extend when landing gear is lowered.
Fuselage:
- Construction: Aluminum-alloy semi-monocoque with flush-riveted smooth Alclad skin.
Tail Unit:
- Type: Cantilever monoplane with fixed surfaces made of aluminum-alloy frames and flush-riveted Alclad skin. Movable surfaces have aluminum-alloy frames and are covered with fabric.

Landing Gear

Type: Retractable.
- Main Gear: Comprises two Curtiss oleo-pneumatic shock-absorber struts retracting inwardly into the wings. The apertures are closed by fairings attached to the struts and wheels.
- Tail Wheel: Steerable and partly retractable.
- Additional Features: Equipped with deck arrester gear and retractable catapult spools for carrier operations.

Power Plant

Engine: Wright R-2600-20, a fourteen-cylinder radial air-cooled, geared, and supercharged engine.
Propeller: Curtiss Electric four-blade constant-speed airscrew.
Fuel System: Three self-sealing fuel tanks (two in the center-section, one in the fuselage) with provision for an auxiliary tank in the bomb-bay. Protected fuel and oil lines, with an oil tank located in the engine compartment.

Accommodation and Crew

Cockpits: Enclosed cockpits for the pilot and observer, both equipped with heating, ventilation, and armor protection.
Additional Features: Auto pilot, inflatable dinghy stored under the canopy forward of the gunner.

Armament

Guns:
- Wing-mounted: Two 20 mm cannons or four .50 cal. machine guns.
- Rear Gun: One .50 cal. machine gun on a hydraulic mounting in the rear cockpit. The decking aft of the cockpit can collapse to increase the field of fire.
Bomb Load: Internal bomb stowage with hydraulically-operated bomb doors, and two external bomb racks under the wings.
Other Equipment: Camera in the rear cockpit for reconnaissance or observation.

Bibliography

Robert Stern, Don Greer: SB2C Helldiver in action - Squadron/Signal Publications Aircraft No. 54
Barrett Tillman, Tom Tullis: Helldiver Units of World War 2 - Osprey Combat Aircraft 3
SBD Dauntless, SB2C Helldiver - Famous Airplanes of the World 40 (japan)
Bert Kinzey: SB2C Helldiver in detail & scale 52
Peter C. Smith: Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, Crowood Press
Aerodata International - U.S. Navy Carrier Bombers of World War II: TBD Devastator SBD Dauntless SB2C Helldiver TBF/TBM Avenger - Squadron/Signal Publications 6205
Peter M. Bowers: Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947
Phil H. Listemann: The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver in French Service - Allied Wings No 12
David Doyle: SB2C Helldiver in Action Squadron/Signal Publications 10235
Harold Andrews: The Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver, Aircraft Profile No. 124
John M. Elliott – The Official Monogram U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2: 1940-1949
Thomas E. Doll – US Navy Aircraft Camouflage & Markings 1940-1945, Squadron/Signal Publications 6087
Thomas E. Doll, Barkley R. Jackson: Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1, 1911-1945 – Squadron/Signal Publications 6159