Hobby Master Archive

USMC VB-16 consisted of 36 Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless operating from the USS Lexington from September 1943 - June 1944. Starting in June 1943 the aircraft carried the new tri-color national insignia with a red surround with false gun ports painted on the wings leading edges. However in mid September 1943 the red surround slowly began to be replaced by Insignia Blue. In November 1943 the U.S. Marines began their assault on the Gilbert Islands and the SBD-5’s of VB-16 took part with some still wearing the red surround.

THE DIVE BRAKES ARE PERMANENTLY IN THE OPEN POSITION