Curtiss Helldiver SB2C Academy 1/72 2005 tool
2005 Tooling, 2012 Boxing

Although the instructions state that VB-3 Sqn was on USS Yorktown in April 1945, this is not correct. The Sqn depicted (VB-3) transferred to USS Lexington on 6 Mar 1945 for Hawaii. Therefore, I have decided that this model depicts White 110 of VB-3 Sqn in Feb 1945 when the Sqn was focusing its efforts on providing air support during the run up to the Battle for Iwo Jima.
VB-3 is considered by many to be the premier Navy attack squadron of WWII. It was established in 1934 and chose a leaping or diving panther as its emblem. The Black Panthers were involved in the sinking of Japanese warships at Midway and Guadalcanal. Flying their Helldivers VB-3 took part in attacks on the Japanese in the Philippines, Formosa and the home islands.