SB2U's ready for war ...

[Mark Allen M]

A request for some Vought SB2U Vindicators in camo & early war markings. All late 1941 early 1942.
If you would like to see some nice additional non-camo types, give a shout it.


SB2U-2 with Scouting Squadron Forty-Two VS-42 pictured sitting on the deck of the USS RANGER


SB2U-2 with Scouting Squadron Nine VS-9 pictured landing on the deck of the USS CHARGER


SB2U-2s with Scouting Squadron Forty-One (VS-41) pictured in flight somewhere in the Atlantic.


SB2U-2 with Scouting Squadron Forty-Two (VS-42) pictured on the deck of ACV-30 USS CHARGER


SB2Us with Scouting Squadron Forty One (VS-41) pictured in flight above their carrier.


SB2U's with Scouting Squadron Forty-One-Forty-Two VS-41-42 being hoisted to the dock at Norfolk from hanger deck of CV-4 USS RANGER


SB2U Vindicator its flaps and tail hook down makes its landing approach to the training aircraft carrier Sable IX81 operating on Lake Michigan


SB2U Vindicator crew free her from the arresting wires following its recovery on board the training aircraft carrier Sable IX81 operating on Lake Michigan


SB2U's with Scouting Squadron Forty-Two VS-42 USS RANGER


This is a view from aboard the carrier USS Wasp, CV-7, looking aft over a number of SB2U's belonging to VS-71 and VS-72.


SB2U-2 with Scouting Squadron Forty-One VS-41


SB2U-2 with Scouting Squadron Forty-One VS-41


SB2U-1 with Scouting Squadron Forty-Two VS-42 USS RANGER CV-4 in the Atlantic


SB2U-2 with Scouting Squadron Forty-One (VS-41) pictured being righted on the deck of ACV-30 (USS CHARGER) after a crash landing.


SB2U-3 near Norfolk VA


SB2U-3 with Scouting Squadron Nine VS-9 on deck of USS Charger


SB2U-2 with Scouting Squadron Seventy-Two VS-72 pictured sitting on the snow covered deck of CV-18 USS WASP


SB2U-V2 with Scouting Squadron Seventy-One (VS-71) pictured sitting on the flight line at Scapa Flow.


Three SB2U's from VS-72 in flight over water.


This is a view of three SB2U's from VS-72 from the USS Wasp, CV-7, in flight over water on 12 4 1941.

[Warbirdnerd]

And the sole survivor after being removed from the Navy's Lake Michigan Underwater Storage Facility and restoration.
Now on display at Pensacola.

[Warbird Kid]

One more time, what was the story here? Two were raised and only one was restored and the other scrapped? Any truth to that?

[Warbirdnerd]

I think you are referring to the SB2A Buccaneer. The NMNA restored one and sent the remaining bits and pieces to Pima. As far as I know they only pulled one Vindicator out of Lake Michigan.

[Dan K]

I think you are referring to the SB2A Buccaneer. The NMNA restored one and sent the remaining bits and pieces to Pima. As far as I know they only pulled one Vindicator out of Lake Michigan.

Digressing, NMNA sent some of the remaining pieces of SB2A to Pima. Much of the final remains from Tullahoma was scrapped, including most of what is included in these photos. NMNA determined this was not worth saving. Pics are from 2005.

[Chris Brame]

One more time, what was the story here? Two were raised and only one was restored and the other scrapped? Any truth to that?

I believe the story was two Vindicators went into Lake Michigan during the war but one was salvaged at the time (must have been in shallow water?).

[Cherrybomber13]

And this is where they built them. They were built in both East Hartford and Stratford. The Vindicators were assembled off to the left of this photo and all they way down the line in building 2 at 550 Main Street in Stratford.

Assembly Line by Cherry Bomb Photography, on Flickr

[Scooby]

I don't know how you do it Mark, I sure appreciate the stuff you find.

I have a friend that finds a lot of unpublished photographs. Sadly he doesn't show them to many people as he pays top dollar for them and he publihes many of them in aviation books he authors.