Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless
Bureau Number 28536 was built at the Douglas Aircraft company plant at El Segundo, Calif. BuNo28536’s first known assignment was with the Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 25 Squadron, having been received from U.S. Marine Corp stocks. BuNo28536 was one of the initial batch of SBD-5’s received by the RNZAF while at Pollikulo, Esprito Santo and given the code on NZ5062 on 19 Feb.1944. She was repainted in RNZAF colors on 25 Feb. 1944. From there, No 25 Squadron flew their SBD-5’s to Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, and from Guadalcanal finally to Piva, Bougainville on 24 March 1944 which became No 25 Squadrons base of operations. While serving with No 25 Squadron, BuNo28536 was flown by Flt. Sgt. N.L. Kelly as pilot and Flt. Sgt .B.E. Cullen as observer/gunner.
Into combat.
Immediately after arriving at Piva, Bougainville on 24 March 1944, BuNo28536’s first combat mission was to Tavera, Bougainville on an artillery spotting mission. Her second mission later that same day was against Japanese troops that were just outside the perimeter of the airfield. The mission was carried out so close to the airfield’s perimeter that the ground crews that armed the aircraft could actually watch the aircraft take off, drop the bombs, and return, all within sight of the airfield. It was during this mission that No 25 Squadron aircraft received its first combat damage when BuNo28536 returned to Piva, with a bullet hole in the rudder. During their combat tour No 25 Squadron often flew missions along with U. S. Marine Corps squadrons flying SBD’s and Avenger bombers. No 25 Squadron flew in combat for a little over two months with their final sortie being on 17 May 1944. Three days later, No 25 Squadron returned their SBD’s to the U.S. Marines at Renarde field in the Russell Islands. During her time with No 25 Squadron, BuNo28536 flew 28 missions, completing 25 including some missions against large Japanese base at Rabaul, New Ireland, compiling a total of 89.3 hours in the combat zone.
MGM studios, Culver City.
Following 28536’s combat career with No 25 Squadron, her history becomes shrouded in the mists of time, however, in 1955, she along with a number of other SBD’s were acquired by MGM studios in Culver City, Calif., and saw a more sedate service as a wind machine until being discarded in 1968.
Enter, Ed Maloney.
In 1968, 28536 was acquired by Mr. Edward Maloney for his growing The Air Museum Planes of Fame where it was put on display in static condition. During the 1970’s 28536 saw its first taste of stardom coming from its use in the movie “Midway” starring Charlton Heston, in which Mr. Heston was actually filmed appearing to fly 28536 for his sequences in the movie. This would be the aircrafts’ first stint in front of the cameras but it wouldn’t be its last. A short time later, 28536’s fortunes would dramatically change for the better.
Restored to airworthy condition.
In 1982 the decision was made to restore 28536 to airworthy condition. The restoration effort took five years between 1982 and 1987. All of the hard work was rewarded when 28536 took to the air again on 2 July 1987. Only a matter of months after the restoration to fly was completed, 28536 was again in front of the cameras in the made for TV. miniseries “War and Remembrance”. During the Coral Sea battle sequences, 28536 actually launched off of the aircraft carrier U.S.S./A.T.V. Lexington in the Gulf of Mexico on 8 Sept. 1987.
Since that time, 28536 has remained a regular flier at the Planes of Fame Air Museum and can be seen in the air several times a year during the legendary Planes of Fame air show in May each year and during at least one of the Planes of Fame monthly events at the museum. BuNo28536 may be viewed in the U.S.S. Enterprise hangar at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California.
