Vero Beach NAS, FL was the home for many of the Dutch versions of the SB2A until the base closed at the end of WWII. As a dive bomber trainer, it had a miserable record of hydraulic failures, mainly in the landing gear systems. As a youngster, we used to have a favorite viewing spot near the base where we could watch gear up and one-gear-down landings. We lost count of the number of crashes we witnessed during the time the base was there, but by today's safety standards, there were way too many fatalaties to be acceptable...however, that was an era where anything that could fly was pressed into service. 07/30/2008 @ 23:17 [ref: 22306]
Aaron F. Robinson Wilmington, NC
On August 9, 1943 an SB2A-4 of the US Marine Corps crashed into the Atlantic Ocean during a training mission. The cause of the crash was unknown, although an oil slick had been discovered in the wreckage. 05/19/2007 @ 08:53 [ref: 16522]
John D. Voss , CA
The SB2C-4 was the designation given to the re-possessed Dutch Order of 162 aircraft. The aircraft were transferred to the USMC at MCAS Cherry Point..specifically VMF-531(N). 04/14/2006 @ 07:47 [ref: 13156]