MovieChat Forums > Dive Bomber (1941) Discussion > Navy Aircraft in the film

Navy Aircraft in the film


That was a good catch identifying the "British" fighter, it looked to me like a PT-22.
In the beginning carrier scenes, TBD Devastators and SB2U Vindicators are being recovered aboard. Later, F3F fighters were launching, along with TBDs and SB2Us.
It also looked like a few Brewster F2As were parked on the flight deck as well.
The dive bombing scenes used the Vought SB2U Vindicator, which looks similar to the SBD, but has a longer nose and a distinctive air scoop on the upper-right side of the engine cowling.
The SB2Us were replaced by the SBD in the Pacific Fleet before Midway, although two Marine squadrons flew them from the island during the battle.
At the end of the film, they are flying TBD Devastators as Lt Lee drops the cigarette case into the sea. Some of those very aircraft were probably lost at Midway, although I never could see a Bureau number close up.
I saw some SNJs on the flight line but never did see the PBM someone else mentioned.
The trainers they were using were N3Ns, nicknamed the "Yellow Peril."
The twin they flew for the pressure suit tests is a tough one. My guess is a Lockheed Hudson, Army model A-28 or Navy designation PBO. It couldn't be an PV-1, because the Navy didn't receive any until 1942. It could be a civilian version of the Hudson, or a borrowed Army A-28/A-29.
Did I miss any?

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Haven't seen the movie in a while, could the twin be a Beech 18?

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@izod611. The PBMs you're looking for may be the aircraft on the ground between two hangars when Lt. Lee is flying inverted in the yellow biplane with Lt. Cmdr. Blake in the front seat.

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I also noticed SNJs - the Army's T-6.

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