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Valiant Vindicators by Stan Stokes.
The Vought SB2U Vindicator represents one of those many 1930s era aircraft designs, that despite incorporating advanced aerodynamic design features when compared to earlier models, was technically obsolete at the start of WW II, and hence gets few favorable comments from a historical aviation combat perspective. The first production deliveries of the SB2U-1 dive-bomber took place in 1937. Powered by an 825-HP Pratt and Whitney radial, this aircraft carried a crew of two, and was capable of a maximum speed of 249-MPH and a maximum range of 1,300 miles. The Vindicators service ceiling was 27,500 feet. In early 1938 the Navy ordered 58 more Vindicators, designating this variant the SB2U-2. In 1939 Vought received a contract to supply the USMC with 57 additional Vindicators. These variants, designated the SB2U-3 would have greater fuel capacity and longer range. The 3s also were fitted with 4 forward firing machine guns instead of only one. Having advance knowledge of the Japanese plans to attack and occupy Americas Midway Islands base, the US Navy spent much of the month of May 1942 building-up the defenses on these tiny, but strategic islands. A mixed bag of USAAF, USN, and USMC aircraft had found their way to Midway in hopes of mounting an effective defense and possibly an offensive operational capability against the coming Japanese attack. The aircraft sent included many obsolescent types, but this was all that Admiral Nimitz had at his disposal. The Marine Corps Air Arm was used to getting USN pass alongs of used and worn aircraft as carrier-based units received more modern aircraft. At Midway, the Marines were no exception to this rule, and they found themselves in possession of F2A Buffalo and F4F Wildcat fighters assigned to VMF-221, and SB2U-3 Vindicators and SBD Dauntless dive bombers assigned to VMSB-241. The Vought Vindicators, nicknamed vibrators by their pilots, were technically obsolete USN hand me downs. The SB2Us were partially fabric covered, and in a power dive the wings had a nasty habit of shedding fabric, and hence lift. As a result these aircraft were patched up with a lot of tape, and the recent over painting of the rudder stripes and previous squadron markings gave them a rather ratty appearance. Warned by PBY patrol aircraft of the incoming Japanese air attack, MAG-22 scrambled all available aircraft just before 6:00AM on June 4, 1942. The 12 Vindicators available took off armed with 500-pound bombs mounted on their centerline bomb racks. In Stan Stokes painting a heavily laden Vindicator struggles for altitude in the first phase of the Battle of Midway. |
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