When the Museum’s Helldiver was on display at the NMNA, its markings included the letter “H” on the rudder to indicate its assignment to the aircraft carrier Lexington, which followed the authorized carrier letter identification system for the fall of 1945. Due to the uniqueness of the earlier markings to VB-92, I chose the geometric symbol scheme for the Museum’s Helldiver. Nevertheless, at some point, probably after the squadron had reached Tokyo Harbor and was under the scrutiny of official Navy directives, VB-92 changed its carrier identification markings to the authorized letter system. That experience may have influenced the return to the geometric symbols when VB-92 embarked upon Lexington. Lexington’s officers and crew found it difficult to identify aircraft at distances beyond 400 yards during operations. The Lexington war diary held in the National Archives stated a general dissatisfaction with the authorized carrier letter identification system (“H” for Lexington) introduced in July 1945. There is no explanation for the existence of the unauthorized geometric markings on VB-92 aircraft in September. Lexington’s symbol was a broad white diagonal bar on the vertical stabilizer and the wingtips. As they cruised toward Japan to take part in the occupation, VB-92 Helldivers featured the geometric symbol system used officially by Navy carrier groups during the earlier period of January to July 1945. An interpretation of the photographs from the squadron yearbook and archival collections revealed that VB-92 aircraft markings changed while on Lexington.

The Museum’s Helldiver will be repainted as it appeared during the early phase of its assignment to Bombing Squadron (VB) 92, the “Battling Beasts,” on USS Lexington (CV-16) during September-December 1945. The Helldiver fuselage after its arrival in the Restoration Hangar in 2010. The artifact went on loan to the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) in 1975 and returned to the Smithsonian in 2003. This Helldiver never saw combat, but served with various other Navy units until 1948 and entered the Museum collection in 1960. It was prepared for transfer to Guam in the Pacific Theater in San Diego in June for assignment to a Carrier Air Service Unit, arriving there in July. The aircraft went to Naval Air Station (NAS) Port Columbus, located on the same airfield, three days later. All Helldivers leaving the factory of that time would be a glossy “Sea Blue” and covered in numerous stencils that facilitated easier operation and maintenance. Navy accepted the Museum’s Helldiver on May 19, 1945, at the Curtiss-Wright factory in Columbus, Ohio. In anticipation of those events, I would like to share with you some aspects of my work on our example of the famous American World War II dive bomber. For those of you attending the Center’s Open House on Saturday, January 25, you will get a chance to tour the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar and see some of the work-in-progress firsthand (note that the fuselage will not be on view). On Friday, March 14, 2014, the Museum will put on display its latest restored aircraft, a Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver, at the Steven F.

Sbc2 helldiver