DAUNTLESS IN PEACE AND WAR

On January 12, 1994, A&T Recovery, rescued 2106 from the depths of Lake Michigan

A PRELIMINARY ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL DOCUMENTATION
OF DOUGLAS SBD-2 DAUNTLESS BuNo 2106, MIDWAY MADNESS
By Richard K. Wills

SBD 2106 survived, the Imperial Japanese Navy's raid on the U. S. Navy Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, 7 December 1941. Bureau Number 2106 was carried to Midway Island in May (1942) for the purpose of strengthening the U.S. Marine Corps' Scout Bombing Squadron TWO FORTY ONE (VMSB-241) in preparation for the Japanese offensive that Naval intelligence agencies were anticipating.

On 4 June this Dauntless, wearing the side code of 6, an abbreviated form of 241-MSB-6, and manned by 1stLT Daniel Iverson, Jr., pilot, and PFC Wallace J. Reid, radioman-gunner, participated in the decisive Battle of Midway. Bureau Number 2106 survived the costly Marine attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier Hiryu that cost VMSB-241 half its Dauntlesses.

This engagement resulted in both Iverson and Reid being wounded in action, and Bureau Number 2106 collecting at least 210, perhaps as many as 259, holes in its airframe from projectiles, as well as suffering further damage upon its return and crash landing on Midway. The Navy awarded Iverson with the Navy Cross and Reid with the Distinguished Flying Cross for their heroism during the mission.

Detailed 2106 Archaeological Report (PDF) 171 pages

A&T Recovery, Chicago-based firm, has already recovered 31 World War II planes
from the lake on behalf of the National Museum of Naval Aviation