Seen at AirVenture 2024

The Curtiss-Wright SB2C-5 Helldiver

Production and purpose

The SB2C Helldiver is a dive bomber developed by Curtiss-Wright for the U.S. Navy during WWII. The Helldiver, also known as "The big tailed Beast" was designed to replace the SBD Dauntless. The early versions were not well liked by pilots or carrier crews. But Curtiss made substantial improvements to the design and Helldiver became extremely successful the last year and a half of the war. The last design (SB2C-5) had a bigger engine, a four blade propeller and a larger fuel capacity. In total there were over 7,000 Helldivers built from...