Next in RAF in Combat's series, Allied Wings, is this one on the SB2C Helldiver in French service. Though not exactly loved by USN crews who had flown other planes, the Helldiver was transformed into a troublesome pain in the butt to a well-liked and durable carrier bomber.

Following WWII, the French were looking for a replacement for their aging SBD Dauntless bombers. By the late 1940s, these planes had become increasingly difficult to maintain and were rather limited in combat capabilities, even against the insurgents in IndoChina where the French were vainly trying to maintain their pre-war colonies. As the songs have said, revolution was in the air and various peoples in the region were deciding that they had enough of the French.

So the French Navy looked to the US to help with surplus aircraft. The SB2C-5, the last version of the Helldiver, was chosen to equip their carrier borne air wings. Eventually three flotilla operated the type as well as a number of secondary units. The Helldiver went into fleet service in 1950 and performed admirably in several cruises to IndoChina, operating from both land and ship during that time. However, the insurgents were determined and after the huge defeat at Dien Ben Phu in 1954, the writing was on the wall for the French and a peace settlement pretty much carved up the former French colony.

The Helldiver did not last much longer than that, being totally out of the inventory shortly after and so did not see any action in Algeria.

Author Phil Listemann has scoured the archives to provide a superb photo and historical collection of French 'Beasts'. Chock full of photos, some in full color, the story of the acquisition, training, and use of the aircraft are presented. Besides all the photos, there are three full pages of full color profiles of these planes in every unit with which they served.

It makes for not only an interesting read, but a great resource for modelers. It is a book I can highly recommend to you.  

December 2011

Review book courtesy of www.raf-in-combat.com. Visit them for other great titles. This book is also available via Amazon.com

If you would like your product reviewed fairly and quickly, please contact me or see other details in the Note to Contributors.

Back to the Book Index

Back to the Main Page