The Douglas SBD Dauntless, the Slow But Deadly Dauntless, was easily the most famous bomber of World War II, and possibly the most important dive bomber flown by any combatant during World War II. The Dauntless was already considered obsolete even before the United States entered the war. Obsolescence not with standing, The Dauntless sunk more enemy shipping during 1942 than all other aircraft combined and destroyed the cream of the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet during the Battle of Midway, a blow from which the Japanese Navy never recovered.

By Robert C. Stern