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Bomber Wreckage
The legible markings on the fuselage beneath the gunner’s ring mount (“B5” in the center of the frame) and the right wing (“5” near the bottom of the frame) of this Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber enabled researchers to identify it as Bureau Number 4542. Crewed by Ensign George H. Goldsmith (pilot) and Radioman 1st Class James W. Patterson, Jr, the SBD-3 was one of two battle-damaged planes from USS Enterprise’s Bombing Squadron Six that landed on Yorktown following their successful attack on the Japanese Imperial Navy carrier Kaga. Learn more