CURTISS AIRCRAFT SB2C HELLDIVER U.S. NAVY DIVE BOMBER INTRODUCTION FILM 23544
149,974
Published 2017-04-30
Made during WWII by Curtiss, this film was created to introduce U.S. Navy pilots to their new SB2C Helldiver, a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the US Navy. Due to the advent of air-to-ground rockets, the SB2C was the last purpose-built dive bomber produced. The aircraft was one of the more maligned planes to be put into production, and developed a bad reputation in early service. While manufacturers produced many similar films during the war, one has to wonder whether this particular film was part of a concerted p.r. effort by Curtiss to save their reputation. The aircraft flew successfully through the last two years of the war, but the Helldiver's reputation coupled with a scandal involving defective aircraft engines produced in 1941-43 seriously crippled Curtiss.
The film begins with pilots watching as the aircraft is put through its paces and press the pilot for “the dope” on the Helldiver once he lands. At mark 01:50 we see the plane on the runway as the narrator explains how it it a multi-faceted machine that can develop torpedoes or depth bombs, and can be used on aircraft carriers or land-based squadrons. Engine specifics are discussed beginning at mark 02:04 and as the film continues we learn of its various design components from wheels to bomb bays. Start-up procedures are covered at mark 04:00 and we receive a detailed look of every switch and lever inside the cockpit, and every contingency involving fuel and oil pressure (mark 06:30). As the first US Navy dive bomber equipped with hydraulic folding wings, the film takes care in explaining their operation starting near mark 06:50. Pilots demonstrate proper take-off procedures starting near mark 08:00 with the camera carefully following gauges and levers are they are described. The pilots review proper procedures for aircraft carrier take offs, which vary slightly from land-based procedures (mark 13:45) before climbing away from the field at mark 15:50 as pilots are cautioned to keep an eye on their fuel mixture controls and cylinder head temperatures during lift off. Stall characteristics of the Helldiver are covered starting at mark 18:00 as a film crew in another aircraft captures maneuvers in the sky and the narrator provides additional detailed information. The film continues with a more details on handing the plane in a dive (mark 20:25), crucial information since the Helldiver is used on bombing missions. Emergency safety procedures are addressed at mark 24:40 before the aircraft finally comes in for a landing at mark 27:30.
The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was a carrier-based dive bomber aircraft produced for the United States Navy during World War II. It replaced the Douglas SBD Dauntless in US Navy service. The SB2C was much faster than the SBD it replaced.
Crew nicknames for the aircraft included the Big-Tailed Beast (or just the derogatory Beast), Two-Cee and Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class (after its designation and partly because of its reputation for having difficult handling characteristics). Neither pilots nor aircraft carrier captains seemed to like it.
Delays marred its production—by the time the A-25 Shrike variant for the USAAF was deployed in late 1943, the Army Air Forces no longer had a need for a thoroughbred dive bomber. Poor handling of the aircraft was another factor that hampered its service introductions; both the British Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force cancelled substantial orders.
The Truman Committee investigated Helldiver production and turned in a scathing report, which eventually led to the beginning of the end for Curtiss. Problems with the Helldiver were eventually ironed out, and in spite of its early problems, the aircraft was flown through the last two years of the Pacific War with a fine combat record.
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All Comments (21)
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Every motorcyclist owes a salute to this man and his company for the twist grip throttle
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Flying a WW2 Dive Bomber / Scout. Another job I would fail at miserably. Thanks, men who did it for us.
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The SB2C, which Navy flyers claimed was an acronym for "Son-of-a-Bitch, 2nd-Class". My father flew frequently in these aircraft during WW-II from the carriers Yorktown, Hornet and Belleau Wood, including strikes against Truk, the Philippines and the Ryukyus, the Battle of the Philippine Sea and the sinking of the battleship Yamato. The bottom line was that, given the choice, he greatly preferred to fly in the Grumman Avenger. The Helldiver was both underpowered when fully loaded and had bad low-speed handling characteristics. As a result there were a lot of accidents during take-offs and landings, so that the plane developed a very bad reputation in the fleet. My father said that, while Grumman Avengers and Hellcats would climb away from the flight deck, on take-off, the Helldivers would drop off the end of the deck, and then be seen again struggling into the air, or sometimes they simply crashed into the sea. In fact, the performance of the Helldiver was so bad that the captain of the Yorktown recommended that they be replaced with the Dauntless diver bombers which the Helldivers had originally been intended to replace.
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Dad trained and flew in the Helldiver. CAG 75 on the FDR CV42. He sat in the Rear Seat. Radioman/Gunner and later trained on Radar Operator. While Ferrying SB2w5e 's to Guantanamo Bay Cuba they flew #7 off the end and into the sea. OFFICAL Report stated Catapult Failure.
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Wow, that's a ton of info to remember just to keep the engine operating properly!
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I really enjoy these, and hold great respect for those who flew them.🙏💯
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Do you guy realize that some soon to be flyboy back in the day woluld be watching this thinking “i”’ll have to master this in two weeks time”? It is amazing to have these videos available 75 years later!
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Imagine remembering all that, plus your mission and navigation, then being shot at, and having to land on a rolling deck at twilight.
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Two notable actors among the young aviators, the lighter-haired man is redhead Gene Lyons, most familiar tv-wise as the police commissioner on Ironsides, starring Raymond Burr. But it took me awhile to figure out the tall kid with the full head of black hair was young Steven Hill, the original lead in the tv series Mission Impossible who crowned his long career as DA Adam Schiff on the Law & Order series! Straight out of high school Hill served in the Naval Reserve from (1940-44) and re-enlisted '52-'54 before returning to acting.
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the 3 dislikes are from the IJN Musashi, Yamato and Shokaku, they hate that aircraft.!
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The braking system of that plane was on my 1986 GMC 1 ton dually - an accumulator which work fantastic. That truck had 13X3" drum brakes all round and would stop. Those accumulators have NO power boost drums that run off vacuum. They should be on all vehicles. Never ever had a single problem with that system. Love the HB2C but a gas guzzler like most big radials. Thanks for posting this.
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I'm in my sixties and met a few WWII Naval Aviators who flew this aircraft. All agreed they found it to be a nightmare in almost any metric. And that was after many redesigns. One guy said war is hell on earth. The hell diver was hell in the air, on the ground and even when I thought about flying it.
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So many steps for prop aircraft compared to early Jets !
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God, this stuff is great. Binging here. Great job. thanks for posting.
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I'm sold! I'll fly it! I love these films. Wait, how do those power brakes work again?
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I love these old WW2 vids👍🇳🇿
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I have this in FSX. Great airplane indeed.
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Thank goodness Australia had the foresight to cancel their order for this aircraft. Dunno what they bought instead. Curious that C° was used for temperatures, but imperial measurements for all other instruments.
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Huge cockpit.
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Built for long scouting and bombing missions yet can’t be trimmed to fly hands off? Must have been tiring to fly....
