The U.S. Naval Institute caption for this photo reads:

Curtiss SBC-4 Helldivers of Scouting Squadron 2, assigned to the USS Lexington
(CV-2), are lined up and ready for action in August 1939. Vought SB2U-1
Vindicators of Bombing Squadron 2 can be seen in the background.


U.S. Naval Institute Photo Archive - Larger Image

Hawaiian Helldivers

These next few photos show SBC-3s of VS-6, flying from the USS Enterprise (indicated by the blue
tails) during maneuvers in the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands in August and/or September of 1940.

The red chevron on the top wing and red lower engine cowling identify this as
ship #3 within the squadron, flying left wing in the 1st Section.


LIFE photo taken by Carl Mydans - Larger Image

The yellow chevron on the top wing and yellow lower engine cowling identify this as ship
#18 within the squadron, flying left wing in the 6th Section. The ship that's immediately
in front of this one was squadron ship #16, assigned to the 6th Section Leader, as denoted
by the yellow fuselage stripe under the rear cockpit and solid yellow engine cowling.


LIFE photo taken by Carl Mydans - Larger Image

The blue chevron on the top wing, overall blue engine cowling, and barely visible blue
fuselage stripe under the rear cockpit identify this as ship #7 within the squadron, assigned
to the 3rd Section Leader. The cause of the 'oopsie' shown here is currently unknown to me.


LIFE photo taken by Carl Mydans - Larger Image

Long Beach Helldiver

SBC-4 BuNo. 1302 from Naval Reserve Air Base Long Beach at Grand Central Airport in Glendale,
California during 1939 or 1940. See more photos of NRAB Long Beach Helldivers HERE...


Project 914 Archives - Larger Image

A Helldiver from Brooklyn

SBC-4 BuNo 1813, flown by the CO of NRAB New York, LtCmdr. Donald F. Smith.
You can see more Helldivers from Naval Reserve Aviation Base New York HERE.


National Air and Space Museum Archives (Hans Groenhoff Photo Collection) - Larger Image

Marine Helldiver

SBC-4 BuNo. 1287 from the First Marine Aircraft Wing. This ship was destroyed
in a crash on March 13th, 1943, though I have no details as to what happened.


National Museum of Naval Aviation - Larger Image

1st MAW Two-Ship

A USMC SBC-4 flies wing on an SNJ-3 during the Spring of 1942.
Both ships are from the First Marine Aircraft Wing.


National Archives and Records Administration via Naval History and Heritage Command - Larger Image

A closer look at the Helldiver...


National Archives and Records Administration via Naval History and Heritage Command - Larger Image

Helldivers pour l'Aéronavale

A trio of CW-77s at the Buffalo Airport during early June of 1940. These were
just a few of the 50 former US Navy SBC-4s that were refurbished for the French Navy.

More on these French Helldivers HERE...


Project 914 Archives (S.Donacik collection) - Larger Image

Helldivers for the Brits

Five of the fifty Helldivers intended for France were left behind in Canada because
there was no room for them on the French aircraft carrier Béarn, which had been
tasked with delivering them to France. After the French capitulation, these five ships
were acquired by the British and used by the RAF in various training and utility roles.
In British service the SBC-4 was known as the Cleveland Mk.I.


San Diego Air and Space Museum (Charles M. Daniels collection) - Larger Image

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