The A-24B-DT was basically similar to the Navy's SBD-5. The SBD-5 was powered by a 1200 hp Wright R-1820-60, which was housed in a redesigned cowling without an air intake on its upper lip. The increased power made it possible to increase the offensive load to 2250 pounds--one 1600-lb bomb underneath the fuselage and two 325-lb bombs underneath the wings. Unlike the previous A-24s, the A-24B-DTs were all ordered directly by the USAAF. They were the only Dauntlesses to be built in Douglas's Tulsa, Oklahoma plant. A total of 1200 were ordered in November of 1942, but 585 were cancelled. The 615 A-24Bs built bore the USAAF serials 42-54285 to 42-54899.
In 1948, the few remaining A-24Bs were redesignated F-24B-DT. One of these aircraft was used as a drone director aircraft in connection with the tests of the QF-24A-DE, and was redesignated DF-24B-DT and was re-serialed as 48-045.
Serials of A-24B-DT:
42-54285/54399 Douglas A-24B-1-DT Dauntless c/n 17124/17238 42-54400/54459 Douglas A-24B-5-DT Dauntless c/n 17239/17298 42-54460/54649 Douglas A-24B-10-DT Dauntless c/n 17299/17488 42-54650/54899 Douglas A-24B-15-DT Dauntless c/n 17489/17738 48-045 Douglas DF-24B-DT Dauntless Originally A-24B-DT. remanufactured as drone director aircraft
Sources:
-
American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition, Ray Wagner, Doubleday,
1982.
-
The Dauntless Dive Bomber of World War II, Barrett Tillman
- McDonnel Douglas Aircraft Since 1920: Volume 1, Rene J. Francillon, Naval Institute Press, 1988.
