The Dauntless in RNZAF Service

Allied Wings No. 5
By Cliff F. L. Jenks
RAF in Combat, ©2008
ISBN 978-2-95263-819-7
Softbound, 38 Pages

By Chris Banyai-Riepl

The newest title in the impressive Allied Wings series moves to the South Pacific, covering a popular aircraft (the Douglas SBD Dauntless) in the service of a small country (New Zealand). While the exploits of the Dauntless in US service is common knowledge, the SBD in foreign hands is less well known. This book helps take care of that omission, for the Royal New Zealand Air Force, anyway. The RNZAF took delivery of over sixty Dauntlesses, including the SBD-3, -4, and -5 variants. While the -3 and -4 variants were used for training, the SBD-5 went on to No. 25 Squadron for operational usage.

The book begins with an abbreviated history of the SBD, followed by a short overview of the process of bringing the Dauntless to the RNZAF. The majority of the text, though, details the operational history of No. 25 Squadron, from early conversion training through to combat in the islands of the South Pacific. The first combat mission of the RNZAF Dauntlesses placed them over Guadalcanal for artillery spotting. They soon took a more active role in the operations against the Japanese on the island, working in close cooperation with Navy and Marine aircraft. The crews of No. 25 Squadron continued to fly the SBD until May 1944, when the aircraft were returned to the Marine Corps and the unit disbanded.

Complementing the text are many photos of RNZAF Dauntlesses, including many showing some of the interesting and colorful artwork applied to the sides. Further highlighting these individual markings are a dozen side view color illustrations, coupled with a handful of scrap views. As these were former US aircraft, most have the standard USN/USMC camouflage, with the US national markings covered up with RNZAF roundels. Rounding out the book are the usual data tables providing operational information, losses, and a list of the nine RNZAF aviators lost while flying Dauntlesses.

This is an excellent reference on RNZAF Dauntlesses, and one which will undoubtedly inspire many to build up one or three of these interesting SBDs. My thanks to RAF in Combat for the review copy.