The story
The Helldiver arrived to replace the Dauntless as the US Navy's carrier dive bomber, and its crews never quite forgave it. It was bigger, heavier and harder to fly, and they called it the Big-Tailed Beast or, from its designation, Son-of-a-Bitch 2nd Class. It first went into combat over Rabaul in November 1943 and flew through the great carrier battles that followed, from the Philippine Sea to Okinawa. Curtiss and two Canadian factories built 7,140. By summer 2024 three were flying: the Commemorative Air Force's, joined that year by restorations at Fagen Fighters in Minnesota and the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado.
The Navy wanted two Helldivers to fit on an Essex-class carrier's elevator at once, so Curtiss had to keep it short. Pilots blamed that stubby fuselage for its difficult handling.
Quick answers
How do you identify a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver?
A stocky single-engine Navy plane with a long two-seat canopy and a tall, broad fin. On the ground its wings fold upward, and the split dive flaps on the trailing edge are full of holes. The CAF's flies in wartime Navy blue and white with a big 32 on the tail.
What does a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver sound like?
A 14-cylinder Twin Cyclone, the engine that also powered the B-25 and the TBF Avenger: a deep, heavy radial growl.
How fast is the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver?
Top speed is 256 kts.
How many people does the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver carry?
Typical configuration: Pilot and rear gunner.
How far can the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver fly?
Range is about 1,012 nmi.
How big is the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver?
It is 36 ft 8 in long and 49 ft 9 in across the wings.
When did the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver first fly?
Its first flight was in 1940.
How many Curtiss SB2C Helldivers have been built?
7,140 built.
What do crews call the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver?
The Beast.
How rare is a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver in Bogey?
LEGENDARY. The top tier. Spotters plan trips around a catch like this. Your first Curtiss SB2C Helldiver catch is worth 1,000 points.
