- Paperback: 224 pages
- Publisher: The Crowood Press Ltd; Revised edition (23 Aug 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 186126710X
- ISBN-13: 978-1861267108
- Product Dimensions: 27.7 x 21.8 x 2 cm
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,429,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
The massive Curtiss SB2C Helldiver became the most famous monoplane dive-bomber. It was the backbone of the United States Navy's offensive in the Pacific from 1943 until the Japanese capitulation. Despite early problems evolved into an effective and reliable aeroplane. Packed with rare photographs, this lively and informative book describes an often-neglected aeroplane.
About the Author
Peter C Smith is a full-time historian and writer. He has written many meticulously researched factual history books on aviation, military and naval topics. H is a member of the London and American Aviation Historical Society.
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3 reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Good Book on an Ugly Airplane
22 April 2005
Format:Paperback
There is an old saying that if an airplane looks good it will fly good, and I've always thought the Helldiver was an ugly airplane. In reading this book I can see why it was so ugly. The original specifications issued by the navy were that two airplanes had to fit on the elevator of the Essex class carriers. This made the plane shorter than it should have been and resulted in the short, fat look of the plane. This caused instability in flight that really didn't get resolved until the -4 and -5 revisions. By then it had turned into quite an airplane, finally living up to its expectations and replacing the much older SBD.
Peter Smith obviously loves the plane and has collected an amazing amount of material to write about and photographs to include in this book. He of course covers the use of the plane by the US Navy, but also talks about the Army version (A-25 Shrike) which was developed but fell into disfavor because the USAAF didn't want a dive bomber. Some interesting politics in this area.
This is probably the best written, most complete single airplane book I've read. But I still think the Helldiver was ugly.
Peter Smith obviously loves the plane and has collected an amazing amount of material to write about and photographs to include in this book. He of course covers the use of the plane by the US Navy, but also talks about the Army version (A-25 Shrike) which was developed but fell into disfavor because the USAAF didn't want a dive bomber. Some interesting politics in this area.
This is probably the best written, most complete single airplane book I've read. But I still think the Helldiver was ugly.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Myth Buster
6 Nov 2009
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
The author Peter Smith, has written many books about aviation and goes to great lengths to disprove all of the critics of the Helldiver. He uses charts, data and facts to show that yes, this plane had early problems but how they came about, the fixing of those problems and the eventual success of this airplane.
The US Navy made the problem when they gave the designers such tough specifications as to be able to fit two Helldivers onto one elevator of an Aircraft Carrier. Curtis Aviation (who also built the P-40 Flying Tiger) did the best they could with the limitations of the design, and built a big old fat ugly airplane that was tough and could survive punishment and dish out more than other US warplanes of the time.
The other problem facing this warbird? 370 were ordered before the first prototype flew, Curtis had to build enormous factories, create and train a work force to build these, modify the prototypes and do all of this immediately. They did something right, over 7,000 were built and continued to be used after WW2.
What I did not like - the author has an annoying habit of using exclaimation points every two or three sentences! There are no color photos. I think in a book of this price, there should be color plates.
What I loved - detail, facts, statistics, quotes from pilots who flew the bird in combat. Every version of the plane is explored. By the end, you can see why the author disagrees that this was a bad airplane. It was a design rushed into service under very difficult times and while maybe the ugliest plane in the sky, it was effective and overcame the initial problems.
I recommend this book to aviation students, especially those of the Pacific war. A very good balance of nuts and bolts history plus an operational overview of the Helldiver.
The US Navy made the problem when they gave the designers such tough specifications as to be able to fit two Helldivers onto one elevator of an Aircraft Carrier. Curtis Aviation (who also built the P-40 Flying Tiger) did the best they could with the limitations of the design, and built a big old fat ugly airplane that was tough and could survive punishment and dish out more than other US warplanes of the time.
The other problem facing this warbird? 370 were ordered before the first prototype flew, Curtis had to build enormous factories, create and train a work force to build these, modify the prototypes and do all of this immediately. They did something right, over 7,000 were built and continued to be used after WW2.
What I did not like - the author has an annoying habit of using exclaimation points every two or three sentences! There are no color photos. I think in a book of this price, there should be color plates.
What I loved - detail, facts, statistics, quotes from pilots who flew the bird in combat. Every version of the plane is explored. By the end, you can see why the author disagrees that this was a bad airplane. It was a design rushed into service under very difficult times and while maybe the ugliest plane in the sky, it was effective and overcame the initial problems.
I recommend this book to aviation students, especially those of the Pacific war. A very good balance of nuts and bolts history plus an operational overview of the Helldiver.
Excellent book
19 April 2012
Format:Paperback
The best book I've ever seen on the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Many pictures from different air groups and carriers, including about 12 pages about VB-85.
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