Warbird Information Exchange

This Dauntless went on display yesterday at Chicago's Midway Airport. see www.chicagotribune.com/news/printeditio ... tmetro-hed and www.flychicago.com/doa/avi_news/MidwayD ... 090204.htm. This Dauntless was transferred by the Navy from the USAF Museum to Chicago for display.

Is this the SBD that was painted up as a A24 that was displayed at Dayton?Was this the A.F.museums choice or is it another black eye for the Navy?Isnt there a surplus of them at Pensacola?Why not display one of the many that are there?It would open up more space for rarer a/c like the Douglas Destroyer, Sky Shark,ect!!Thaks Mike

I think I saw that in Dayton last week. The green one, right?

Hi all--

When I visited USAFM in June there were two Dauntlesses there, an OD/grey A-24 in the WWII display with its wings not yet installed (they were there, but not on the airframe) and a Navy-schemed one, tarped with clear plastic sheet, in one of the storage/restoration hangars, which was being prepared for shipping elsewhere and is presumably the one now at Chicago Midway. Is the Midway SBD publically accessible? I know the F4F at O'Hare can be seen only by boarding passengers...

S.

That sounds like great news!I visited a few years ago and the A24 was assembled and on display.Ill have to make the trip to see the one at Midway lets hope the general public can view it!!Thanks Mike

Just passed through Midway last week and the SBD was hanging from the cieling near the entrance to the A terminal (or was it the C terminal?) In any event it is easy to see once you clear through security. It is painted in a Navy blue\grey scheme circa the Battle of Midway. There is also a nice information display about the Battle of Midway there as well.

So Taras,

"As a result of the effort to bring a SBD to Midway Airport, because of the generous contributions of corporations and private individuals the restoration of another SBD Dauntless Dive-bomber will be funded, providing the opportunity for the National Museum of Naval Aviation bring to the attention of the American public another example of this gallant warrior. SBD Bureau Number 36177 will be that airplane, also recovered from Lake Michigan."

Any hints on where SBD BuNo 36177 will go on display once she is restored?

Thanks for all of your efforts in bringing these aircraft to the surface so that we (that don't dive) can get to see and enjoy them. Keep up the good work!

Steve