The Beloved/Behated Helldiver

Helldivers of USS Yorktown’s VB-2 go to work.

The tongue-twister XSB2C-2 was a one-off float version.

Canadian-built Helldiver.

Well, that was stupid. The truck is marked “Electric Service Co. Ann Arbor Michigan. Willow Run Airport perhaps.

Despite being saddled with innumerable issues at the onset of its career, the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver did manage to eventually become a highly effective attack aircraft. Unfortunately for its reputation, though, it was trying to fill the shoes of a legend, a dive-bomber who was a very tough act to follow, the SBD Dauntless. Those who were involved with the Helldiver either loved the big “Beast” (as they called it), while at the same time, there were those who held it in contempt ( the SB2C as “Son of Bitch 2nd Class” was their sobriquet of choice).

Either way one looks at it, the Helldiver sank a lot of ships.