The Helldiver Driver’s Song

[Oberst Hajj]

The Helldiver Driver’s Song

Oh Mother, dear mother,
take down the blue star.
Replace it with one that is gold.
Your son is a Helldiver driver;
he’ll never be 30 years old.

The people who work for Curtiss
are frequently good and drunk.
One day with an awful hangover, they designed and built an old clunk.

The wings are built with precision, the fuselage so strong it won’t fail.
Who were the half-witted people
who designed the cockpit and tail?

The skipper hates Helldiver drivers
he doesn’t think much of that clunk.
Each time we fly aboard his carrier,
he prays that his ship won’t be sunk.

My body lies over the ocean;
my body lies under the sea.
My body lies under the ocean
wrapped up in an SB2C!

[csadn]

I have often wondered what was wrong with Curtiss to cause them to build such godawful rubbish during and after the war (to the point it killed the company).

Of course, they weren't a patch on the Mongolian Clusterf*** which was Brewster....

[Diamondback]

My bet is reckless arrogance and resting on their laurels. Bert Kinzey has some interesting musing's on the Helldiver's inadequacies, deficiencies and just plain WTF?!'s in his Detail & Scale volume on the "Son-of-a-B**** 2nd Class"...

[Flying Officer Kyte]

Great Keith. Another song for my collection.
Thanks.
Rob.

[Oberst Hajj]

Great Keith. Another song for my collection.
Thanks.
Rob.

Thought some of you might like that.

[gully_raker]

:eek: Please remind me NOT to get a Helldiver model!:cheezy:

[Diamondback]

Actually, the later -4E and -5 models weren't too bad... just that getting there SUCKED because the wheels of development were greased in airmen's blood.

There were also a LOT of allegations of kickback and corruption in the SB2C's selection over more trusty Slow But Deadlies... which I suspect is what really did Curtiss in. Oh, the irony, after Curtiss had been the victim of the Wrights' corrupt and monopolistic practices...

[Doug]

:eek: Please remind me NOT to get a Helldiver model!:cheezy:

Also please remind me not to ask for one:eek:

[Marechallannes]

...My body lies under the ocean
wrapped up in an SB2C!

:lol:




Dauntless, Helldiver, Devastator, Avenger...

Doesn't matter we need an US carrier based bomber. Ugly, or not. :serious:

[csadn]

Doesn't matter we need an US carrier based bomber. Ugly, or not. :serious:

There's a card for the Dauntless, in various forms (including the Army model); so I suspect that one will get the nod.

(I also notice how I have pointed out Shocking Inadequacy in *American* designs, and no one's griped about it.... >;) )

[Marechallannes]

I know.

I was so desperated to buy two AIM Dauntless for my Midway campaign and used the plane cards from the "Fire from the Sky" expansion.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=84812&d=1365256116

[P-51D]

We just need to pray Keith's influence continues to grow with Ares. Then he can get them to commit to the Dauntless. The fact that we don't have one in miniature form is an absolute shame. Then again, I am not one of those willing to buy other options to fill in holes in Ares current line. I figure as long as the planes keep selling, Ares will keep making them and we are bound to get a Dauntless at some point.

[Diamondback]

Not just Keith... I'd suggest each of us cultivate connections with Andrea and Rob--my experience has been that while they may not necessarily embrace all of your ideas, they do at least listen and respond.

STILL want a "Reverse Series 2"... maybe a Dauntless to balance the Val as a carrier dive-bomber, a Shturmovik for the Stuka, a Bf109 B/C/D to balance the Hurricane... but what for another early-war Axis fighter?

[P-51D]

The Oscar would be my choice. I agree with the other selections, though I would prefer a C.202 Folgore over the 109.

[Diamondback]

Folgore would also be a good choice, or mayb the MC.200 Saetta. Thanks for the reminder about the Ki-43.