The SBD Dauntless: Saving an Icon of the Pacific War

An Icon of WWII in the Pacific, lost for decades at the bottom of Lake Michigan!

An amazing story over 80 years in the making: the Military Aviation Museum’s historic SBD Dauntless. Found at the bottom of Lake Michigan, recovered, and now being restored to airworthiness, this discussion will cover the SBD’s significance in WWII, a forgotten aspect of how the war was fought from the Great Lakes, and review the ROV footage of the Museum’s aircraft sitting on the bottom of Lake Michigan. The presentation will shed some light on why the US Navy crews who flew the aircraft nicknamed it “Slow But Deadly” and provide plenty of opportunities to ask questions. 

About the Speaker:

Keegan Chetwynd
Director and Chief Executive Officer, Military Aviation Museum

Keegan Chetwynd is the Director and CEO of the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, one of the most highly rated attractions in Hampton Roads, drawing over 85,000 visitors each year. Featuring flying demonstrations, aircraft rides and major airshows, visitors may also explore original WWII structures relocated from Europe to the U.S., each of which is purpose designed for the care and keeping of historic Warbirds including an SBD-5 Dauntless, a PQ-14, an SNB-1 (AT-11) and C-46 “The Tinker Belle” all of which are being restored to flying condition.

From 6:30-8:00 P.M.