{"product_id":"douglas-sbd-6-54805-naval-air-test-center-patuxent-river","title":"Douglas SBD-6 54805 Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River","description":"\u003cp\u003eThese are 1\/72 scale decals for \u003cstrong\u003eDouglas SBD-6 Dauntless 54805\u003c\/strong\u003e, operated by the \u003cstrong\u003eNaval Air Test Center (NATC)\u003c\/strong\u003e at \u003cstrong\u003eNaval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland\u003c\/strong\u003e, wearing the late-war and postwar \u003cstrong\u003etri-color scheme\u003c\/strong\u003e of \u003cstrong\u003eNS Sea Blue (ANA 607)\u003c\/strong\u003e upper surfaces, \u003cstrong\u003eIntermediate Blue (ANA 608)\u003c\/strong\u003e sides, and \u003cstrong\u003eInsignia White (ANA 601)\u003c\/strong\u003e undersides, with bold \u003cstrong\u003e\"NATC\"\u003c\/strong\u003e and \u003cstrong\u003e\"805\"\u003c\/strong\u003e markings.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eSBD-6\u003c\/strong\u003e was the final and most powerful production variant of the Dauntless, fitted with the 1,350 hp Wright R-1820-66 engine — a significant improvement over earlier marks. By the time the SBD-6 entered service in 1944, the Dauntless was being supplanted in fleet dive bombing squadrons by the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, but the type continued to serve in training, utility, and test roles well into the postwar period. \u003cstrong\u003e54805\u003c\/strong\u003e at \u003cstrong\u003ePax River\u003c\/strong\u003e represents one of the last operational Dauntlesses in U.S. Navy service — a final chapter for an aircraft that had defined carrier dive bombing from Pearl Harbor through the end of the war.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eNaval Air Test Center\u003c\/strong\u003e at Patuxent River used a variety of legacy types for chase, utility, and systems evaluation work in the immediate postwar years, and the SBD-6's continued presence there is a testament to the Dauntless's enduring reliability. The tri-color scheme with \u003cstrong\u003e\"NATC\"\u003c\/strong\u003e titling on the wing undersurface and fuselage, and modex \u003cstrong\u003e805\u003c\/strong\u003e, makes this one of the most distinctive and historically significant Dauntless markings in the entire ootbModels range. Includes two serial options.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA rare postwar survivor and a fitting final chapter for the most important American dive bomber of World War II. Please allow some time for decal printing and shipping.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"ootbModels","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49016611864828,"sku":"OTBD72SBD61","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0652\/6828\/5692\/files\/Douglas_SBD-6_54805.png?v=1777000497","url":"https:\/\/outoftheboxmodels.com\/products\/douglas-sbd-6-54805-naval-air-test-center-patuxent-river","provider":"ootbModels","version":"1.0","type":"link"}