SB2C Helldiver: Curtiss’s Carrier-Based Dive Bomber in World War II

Intended as the follow on to the SBD Dauntless series of dive bombers, the "big assed bird" from Curtis did not find the same loyalty among Navy pilots as did its predecessor. This book however is an excellent volume on this aircraft, featuring a wealth of photographs. The images illustrate various models of the aircraft during development, manufacture and during operations. There are many detail photographs and also photographs of preserved examples. This book will appeal to modelers and aviation/history buffs alike.

While the Greenwood Aviation Book is more detail oriented, this book is a must companion book! 90% of the photo's I have never seen before! Many factory and newly built Helldivers! Great for modelers and some RARE hack aircraft photos. Excellent photo and paper quality!

Should be read in conjunction with Legends of Warfare's publications on the US Navy's other carrier-borne warplanes: the Dauntless, Devastator, Avenger, Wild Cat, Corsair and Hell Cat. In 1941, the Japanese had the most effective naval aircraft and pilots on Earth. By the end of 1943 their planes were death-traps and most of the skilled pilots were dead. Hence the use of Kamikazes, most notably at Okinawa, during the long drawn-out convulsions of Japan's armed forces in their death throes.

メーカーの記録写真をベースに地上での前後左右から、空撮、コクピット、工場での製造写真を交えてXSB2Cから-6型まで紹介しているカタログのような写真集です。このシリーズに共通している戦後の飛行可能な機体の、綺麗なカラー写真も14枚添えられています。ズングリなスタイルなので、SBD本の同じような写真と比べてフォトジェニックでは無いですね(笑)　ただ、スコードロン社のインアクションのシリーズで同じ作者のＳＢ２Ｃ本が出版されているのですが、写真のほとんどが重複しており、まるで型紙で貼り付けたようにおなじレイアウトのページすらあります。作者として何か意図するところがあるのでしょうか？　版型も正方形のハードカバー、紙質も異なり厚みもあるので、A4横長とはかなり異なる印象です。インアクションをお持ちでない方にはお勧めの写真集として五つ星としました。個人的には,はまり込んでしまいTBF/TBM,SBD,F6F,CORSAIRなど数ヶ月で8冊も買ってしまいました。作者の思うツボでしょうか（笑）　ちなみにIN ACTIONで作者の異なるF4U,F6Fは写真の重複は少ないようです。

The book was primarily a photo set with very little data. As the USAAF took delivery of 400 + A-25's that section warranted only a few pictures and again no supporting data. A disappointing expenditure on my part.