The Helldiver’s poor manufacturing was a superficial problem relative to its fundamentally flawed design. The aircraft was simply built wrong. The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was built to replace the ...

After overcoming years of challenges, the Commemorative Air Force West Texas Wing's SB2C Helldiver is ready to soar again.

Production proved a slow-go, as Curtiss worked to amend the various design flaws. When the Helldiver finally did join the Navy fleet, the aircraft, nicknamed “Beast,” was maligned for its size ...