See This SBD5 Douglas Dauntless Dive Bomber Displayed at Chino Air Museum

Combat History in the Pacific

This Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber, now on display at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California, was built in 1943 during the height of World War II. It served with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and flew 32 combat missions in 1944. These missions took place in the South Pacific, where the aircraft supported Allied ground forces and attacked enemy ships and installations.

After the war, the aircraft was declared surplus and sold off. It eventually made its way to the United States, where it was acquired by Warner Bros. for use in studio productions. Later, it was purchased by aviation historian Ed Maloney, founder of the Planes of Fame Air Museum.

Restoration and Continued Flight

Restoration work on the aircraft began in 1982. It was a careful and detailed process that lasted five years. In 1987, the restoration was complete, and the aircraft was once again ready to fly. That same year, it was used in the production of the television series War and Remembrance. For filming, it was disassembled and craned aboard the aircraft carrier Lexington. From there, it successfully took off, performing just as it had during wartime service.

Since then, this Dauntless has remained in flying condition. It is regularly flown at air shows and museum events. Visitors to the Planes of Fame Air Museum can still see it take to the skies. For those interested, it’s even possible to book a ride and experience what it was like to fly in one of the most important dive bombers of the war.