General Background

The SB2C was designed to replace the SBD Dauntless. When the Helldivers were first delivered they were so poorly manufactured that some broke in half on landing and wings fell apart in a dive. Some countries cancelled orders and the USAAF never used the 900 they received. Eventually after over 800 modifications and technical changes the Helldiver went on to become one of the most effective dive-bombers of WWII. Most people referred to the plane as “The Big Tail Beast” or just “The Beast”.

The Aircraft

Between 1949 and 1954 France bought 110 SB2C-5 aircraft. Some of these planes were allotted to Esc 3F stationed onboard the carrier Arromanches. The Helldiver and pilots soon became well thought of by the French troops on the ground during the famous battle at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Sometimes only feet above the ground the pilots flew countless sorties strafing and bombing the Viet-Minh with a total disregard to the heavy flak. These would be the last combat missions for the Helldiver but probably the most effective missions in the aircraft’s history