In 1940, after the amazing success of the German Stuka dive bombers in Poland, the U.S. Army Air Corps ordered 78 of the U.S. Navy's Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber, designating it as the A-24. Fifty-four went to Australia, where in 1942 they had a less-than-glorious combat record flying against Japanese targets in Java and New Guinea. The A-24s were regarded as "too slow, too short-ranged, and too poorly armed." They were relegated to non-combat missions after five of seven airplanes were lost and one was badly damaged on a mission over Buna, New Guinea.

In 1942 the U.S. Army Air Force received 90 more A-24s diverted from a Navy SBD-3 contract. These aircraft were essentially the same as the initial A-24s but received the SBD-3A designation during production.






The A-24A was an improved version of the A-24 based on the Douglas SBD-4 Dauntless dive bomber. The A-24A was similar to the A-24 but had a constant speed propeller and a new electrical system. The Air Corps ordered 170 A models, which were diverted from existing Navy contracts and built at the Douglas plant in El Segundo, Calif. The A-24As were delivered in 1942 and 1943. The A-24 saw limited combat service in the Southwest Pacific Theater, but the aircraft was often relegated to non-combat roles as a trainer or target towing for aerial gunnery practice.


The A-24B (US Navy SBD-5) arrived in 1943 powered by the 1,200-hp Wright R1820-60 engine. The 407th Bomb Group, assigned to the 11th Air Force, flew A-24Bs against the Japanese held island of Kiska, Alaska, during July and August 1943. From December 1943 until March 1944, the 531st Fighter Squadron of the 7th Air Force flew A-24Bs from Makin Island in the Gilbert Islands against Japanese controlled islands in the Marshall Islands. The A-24Bs were then withdrawn from combat.

The B model was similar to the previous A-24 model but had a more powerful engine than either the A-24 or A-24A. As a result, A-24B could fly slightly faster and higher than the earlier models. The A-24B lacked the small air intake on the top of the engine cowling present on the earlier models and is an easy way to distinguish the B model.







Douglas A-24B-5-DT (S/N 42-54459) of the 531st Fighter Squadron taxis on Dec. 13, 1943. This was the first A-24B to arrive on Makin in the Gilbert Island Chain.
I often see this photo captioned as a SBD!!


Below in Colour





Regards Duggy,