SBD-5 Dauntless 1/72 Die Cast Model flown by Maj. Christian Lee, VMS-3 "Devilbirds," Virgin Islands, 1944. The Douglas Dauntless was a US Navy carrier-borne dive-bomber manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company at their El Segundo plant. Between its introduction in 1940 until July 1944 when production ceased, just under 6000 SBD Dauntless were manufactured. During this time, the aircraft was the US Navy's key dive-bomber and although slow and somewhat out of date when it began its combat career, it was rugged and dependable, which was reflected in its performance against the Japanese shipping, particularly in the Pacific, where it succeeded in sinking more Japanese ships than any other Allied aircraft in WWII. The Oxford Douglas Dauntless, as flown by US Pilot Major Christian C Lee, is painted with a dark grey upper with an off white rear fuselage and underside, both of which feature its US markings in dark blue and white. An extra detail worthy of note on this model includes the fine replication of the extended trailing edge dive brakes - a key feature on the actual aircraft. The propeller is painted black with yellow tips and a silver spinner and the exhausts pipes echo realism in rusty brown!