This page is for extracts from pilots and combat air crewmen logbooks in order to illustrate the types of missions flown by the SB2C. The first two extracts reflect the beginning and end of the Helldiver's contribution towards winning WWII in the Pacific. David Martin was a participant in the aircraft's first combat mission, against Rabaul on 11 November 1943, whereas John Freeman's extract is for the last full month of the conflict, when the carriers were cruising off the Japanese home islands.
Other SB2C veterans visiting this page are invited to contact me at the address below with a view to contributing further extracts. OTU, VS, CASU, Reserve, etc. assignments are as welcome as VB/VA.
Lt D.M. Martin: November 1943, VB17(Bunker Hill), SB2C-1
9 November 00024 3.4(hrs) Tactical Exercises
11 November 00057 4.8 Attack Rabaul
18 November 00198 3.6 Attack Tarawa
18 November 00091 2.8 Attack Tarawa
20 November 00041 3.8 Attack Tarawa
21 November 00194 3.0 Attack Tarawa
26 November 00098 1.6 Inner Air Patrol
28 November 00046 4.0 Inner Air Patrol
Lt(jg) J.E. Freemann: July 1945, VB6(Hancock), SB2C-4E
7 July 65157 4.5 Tactical Exercises
10 July 65157 4.4 Strike Koizumi A/F
14 July 65157 4.8 Strike Kenebetsu A/F
15 July 65157 5.0 Strike Otaru, Hokkaido
24 July 82976 5.3 Strike Kure
28 July 20883 5.0 Strike Kure
30 July 20883 5.1 Strike Itami A/F
LtCdr J.D. Arbes: June 1944, C.O. VB8(Bunker Hill), SB2C-1C
11 June 00349 3.5 Search/Attack Tinian
12 June 18405 2.5 Attack Tinian
12 June 18335 2.3 Attack Tinian
14 June 00302 2.1 Attack Guam
15 June 18384 3.0 Attack Tinian
15 June 18490 2.2 Attack Tinian
20 June 18588 5.3 Attack Jap Fleet
(water landing, out of gas, rescued 21 June by USS Hickox)
24 June 18342 2.8 Attack Pagan
Ens C.R. Draper: October 1944, VB18(Intrepid), SB2C-3
10 October 19550 3.0 Okinawa
12 October 19256 3.7 Kiirun, Formosa (shot down Nick)
13 October 21312 4.1 Shinchiku, Formosa
14 October 19368 3.9 Shinchiku, Formosa
21 October 21267 4.4 Visayas shipping
23 October 21292 4.0 Clark Field
24 October 19442 5.4 Search
24 October 19170 3.5 Attack on Jap Fleet
26 October 19328 5.5 Attack on Jap Fleet
30 October 19550 4.4 Search
Ens. R.J. Barnes: January 1945, VB20 (Lexington),SB2C-3
4 January 19570 4.6 Okayama A/F, Formosa
(hit by AA, 2'foot hole in tail, elevator control lost)
7 January 19224 4.5 Luzon
(recalled, bad weather)
12 January 19445 3.0 Convoy Indo-China
14 January 19644 6.4 Search Indo-China coast
15 January 18453 4.6 Shipping Pescadores
16 January 19570 4.5 Taikoo Shipyard, Hong Kong
17 January 21404 0.5 replacement A/C from CVE Altamaha
21 January 21404 4.0 Formosa
22 January 19473 4.5 Okinawa