The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a legendary U.S. Navy and Marine Corps dive bomber that played a decisive role in the Pacific during World War II. Entering service in 1940, the two-seat aircraft carried a pilot and rear gunner and was designed to dive steeply toward enemy ships before releasing its bomb with remarkable accuracy. The Dauntless is best remembered for its pivotal role in the Battle of Midway in June 1942, when SBDs from American aircraft carriers attacked and helped sink four Japanese fleet carriers, dramatically shifting the balance of naval power in the Pacific. Rugged, dependable, and highly effective despite its relatively modest speed, the Dauntless also fought at Coral Sea, Guadalcanal, and throughout the Solomon Islands campaign. Its distinctive perforated dive brakes and extraordinary combat record have made the SBD Dauntless one of the most celebrated aircraft in U.S. naval aviation history.