Dauntless return to flight project begins in US

摘要

Virginia Beach's Military Aviation Museum (MAM) has acquired Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless BuNo 36175 in a deal with the National Naval Aviation Museum of Pensacola, Florida.The Virginia attraction is now set to have the machine restored by experts in two different countries.The Dauntless was recovered from Lake Michigan in 1994. Pilot Lt Charles Ford's machine sank into the water following a failed landing attempt aboard USS Wolverine on January 20,1944. Ford was rescued, but the dive bomber remained in the lake for the next 50 years. It was raised from its watery grave by A(B)T Recovery and subsequently entered storage at the Florida museum.It arrived at its new home in mid-February and was placed on temporary display, minus its wings, in approximately 'as found' condition.The museum has ambitious ideas for the exhibit and plans to restore it to airworthy condition. It has also purchased a Douglas A-24B Banshee project (including a large collection of Dauntless components) from former naval aviator and airliner captain Kevin Smith. The cache of parts includes outer wing panels, which are currently missing from 36175. The SBD-5's fuselage is now on its way to Pioneer Aero near Auckland, New Zealand,while the wings are being transported to Aero Trader in Chino, California.