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AIR-18a: Dauntless SBD-2 (BuNo 2136)

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HURL Artifact No. AIR-18a *Denotes approximations and speculations
Name: Dauntless SBD-2 (BuNo 2136) Lost: 2-Apr-42
Artifact Type: Aircraft Found: 15-Mar-05
Nationality: USA Dive No: PIV-134
Class or Make: Douglas Location: Ewa
Model: SBD-2 Depth (m): 332m
Purpose: Scout Bomber HURL crew: Kerby, Cremer, Bloedorn
Serial Number: BuNo 2136 (6-B-17) Additional Dives: RCV-439, PIV-239/PV-744
Built/Launched: 1941 (87)
Length: *16'
Width: 17' 9"
Height: *4'
Circumstance of Loss: Crashed Crew Personnel/Position: Pilot Ens. Stephen C. Hogan Jr., AMM2c Wilbur Thompson
Reason of Loss: Mid air collision during training Crew Survivals/Fatalities: Pilot bailed out and survived, Gunner was killed, not recovered.
Artifact History: While on patrol with 8 other planes this Dauntless collided with another Dauntless (BuNo 2165) causing both pilots to lose control of their aircraft which crashed into the sea. Both pilots were able to bail out and were later picked up by a destroyer with only abrasions. Both gunners were unable to get out and perished. They were likely hindered by the breast plate armor.
Artifact Condition: Both planes are in multiple pieces and are in the same general vicinity spread out over a 100m span. Only the tail section with the BuNo 2136 legible on it can be positively identified as to which plane it belongs to. Other pieces consist of an engine, fuselage pieces, a partial wing and wing root, and another wing root with both wing stubs and the landing gear visible below. The front portion of this wing root is knuckled under from a very hard impact.
Additional Information: Neither body of the gunners were recovered. Both pilots continued to fly with VB-6 of the USS Enterprise and survived the war. Hogan received the Navy Cross for his actions at Midway and also flew in the Solomons. Liffner served at Guadalcanal and in the Solomons. He retired as a Commander and passed away in 2006.

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Revised March 18, 2019 by Meagan Putts
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