SBD Dauntless Series Part Four: In the Solomons with the Cactus Air Force

The American counteroffensive in the southwest Pacific began in August 1942 with the landings at Tulagi and Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands, with the primary mission of taking the incomplete Japanese airfield there. After its capture by the Marines, this field would be completed and become the base of operations for the so-called Cactus Air Force. This mixed force of Navy and Marine airmen flew fighters, torpedo planes, and the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber from this strip in support of the American battle against the Japanese in the Bismarck Archipelago. For six bloody months the American dive bombers would be in constant action against Japanese troops and shipping in the island. The aerial threat presented to the Japanese by these hard-fighting squadrons would dictate the terms of the air-sea battles in the area, and go a long way to securing American victory in these exhausting battles, in which the war machines of the Japanese Empire and the United States were most evenly matched.

[@martinedward2697]

Love the subject. My mother's first husband was with the VMSB 142 , Captain Aubrey R. Jones. Received his wings in 1939 at Pensacola. Marine Corp sent him to MIT for advanced training in radio technology. His gunner was Milby. Received a DFC for sinking a Japanese ship off Munda Point. Survived the war. He later went into a VMF unit at El Toro, as a combat instructor after the war. Died in crash at El Centro, California bombing range in December of 1949, in a F4U. I remember being in his footlocker all the time in the early 60s.

[@bradmiller9507]

Wow! Cool, but kinda creepy story, like my GrandPaw used to tell! Great Stuff!

[@bradmiller9507]

No Like Required, Good Info Always taken Well.

[@MarkSeven]

Here's a like a like anyway. I really appreciate everybody who finds value in my work!

[@nowthenzen]

Unbiased and insightful. Was gonna pace my way through this series but now I think I'm gonna binge it.

[@MarkSeven]

I have probably three more still to do, they're next on my list after pt 13 of the Buffalo series

[@garyhooper1820]

Another well done video , I'm going to subscribe to your channel. And hope to see more .

[@jayfrank1913]

I love finding your channel. I hope more people do!

[@MarkSeven]

Thanks, I am glad you're here as well

[@marl336]

In the late 60's I met a man named Roy Malm. A Marine. He told me he was a rear gunner in an SBD. RIP Roy. He never got into details of his base location or actions.
He did say laying on his back in a dive was uncomfortable.... Southern Minnesota guy.

[@MarkSeven]

Hey, thanks for telling me about Roy. I can only imagine the kind of thing that would be going through a man's head as he sat in the backseat as the plane went into its approach glide and tipped over into the dive. Uncomfortable would be an understatement of British proportions. I'm glad you took to time to look at my work!

[@042452]

My Wife’s Dad was a Marine Rear Gunner on a Land based SBD I my Wife didn’t get a lot of info though

[@shooter2055]

My version of Roy was John Smith. (Yes, there really are guys named John Smith.) John was in the North Dakota National Guard when the war started. He found himself with the Marines on Guadalcanal. The Marines envied him for his Garand rifle. John helped defend Edson's Ridge on the critical night. We didn't talk much of his experiences. I believe it was still painful for him.

[@oceanhome2023]

I would love to have that awesome picture 2:45 displayed in my house !

[@jazmindeakin5644]

New Zealand use SBD Dauntless in Solomon Islands too

[@bradmiller9507]

Could You fly a Dauntless?

[@MarkSeven]

I would really like to but I am way to young to have had the opportunity. Maybe for the best, it seems terrifying diving into all that fire

[@Idahoguy10157]

My deceased ex wife had a much older cousin who told me he was a aerial gunner. He’d been in the navy for years before Pearl Harbor. I don’t recall which aircraft he flew on in the war. Likely it was SBD’s as he survived the war! A relative said he’d once been shot down and bailed out.

[@gyrene_asea4133]

You are covering a lot a subject here. Minor quibble, at @ 5:40 ".. the tireless Enterprise, veteran of Coral Sea and Midway.." Enterprise was not at the Battle of Coral Sea, it was the Lexington and Yorktown.

[@MarkSeven]

Oh no that's embarrassing. I really need to proofread a little better!

[@gyrene_asea4133]

@@MarkSeven No worries, it just surprised me as most of what you have presented in this and other presentations has been pretty accurate. Keep up the good work.

[@oceanhome2023]

Look how bad that airfield was at 35:50 before Seabees arrived !

[@WW2IEBproductions]

how long does it usually take to get one video ready?

[@MarkSeven]

Altogether about 10 hours. Most of that's writing and recording the audio. The video itself only takes about a half hour to put together. I don't really know what I'm doing with making videos, so I have to keep it pretty basic lol

[@WW2IEBproductions]

@@MarkSeven and I Spend 4 hours altogether! that is dedication! keep up the good work!!

[@MarkSeven]

Thanks! I'm glad you like it

[@zuperblue1]

poor narration, good subject matter, speaker is to fast its drone like

[@MarkSeven]

This is something I have been working to improve, so I'd like to know if you think one of my more recent videos is better in this respect. Glad you thought the subject matter was good though

[@leojablonski2309]

The don't listen...duh

[@sueneilson896]

Narration just fine.