This folder contains a repaint for the Aerplane Heaven Curtiss Helldiver in the colors of SB2C-5 of the Thai Air Force, one of 6 aircraft operated by Wing 7 between 1950 and 1955.
Under the Military Assistance Program, the Royal Thai Navy received six SB2C-5 Helldivers in April 1951, as a replacement for WWII-era Japanese warplanes. The Thai military designation for the Helldiver was “Attacker Type 3”. As no Thai pilot was yet qualified on the type, they were delivered as deck cargo by USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88) and then floated on river barges to U-Tapao air base.
The Royal Thai navy planned to form a modern maritime strike squadron with the six Helldivers, along with ten F8F Bearcat fighters. However after a failed coup led by naval officers, the Thai government stripped the navy of both it’s marine corps and air wing, transferring them to the army and air force respectively. The RTAF continued to use the Helldivers as it’s main anti-ship asset. As the RTAF had little interest in investing in more naval strike planes, the Helldivers were well cared for. The six planes remained in regular use until about 1960 when their flight hours began to dwindle. They were retired in 1963, with one going to the national aviation museum.
Thailand was the last country in the world flying the Helldiver, and with it’s retirement there, the story of this warrior of the 1940s Pacific came to a close.Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the paint kit by Aeroplane Heaven.
Under the Military Assistance Program, the Royal Thai Navy received six SB2C-5 Helldivers in April 1951, as a replacement for WWII-era Japanese warplanes. The Thai military designation for the Helldiver was “Attacker Type 3”. As no Thai pilot was yet qualified on the type, they were delivered as deck cargo by USS Cape Esperance (CVE-88) and then floated on river barges to U-Tapao air base.
The Royal Thai navy planned to form a modern maritime strike squadron with the six Helldivers, along with ten F8F Bearcat fighters. However after a failed coup led by naval officers, the Thai government stripped the navy of both it’s marine corps and air wing, transferring them to the army and air force respectively. The RTAF continued to use the Helldivers as it’s main anti-ship asset. As the RTAF had little interest in investing in more naval strike planes, the Helldivers were well cared for. The six planes remained in regular use until about 1960 when their flight hours began to dwindle. They were retired in 1963, with one going to the national aviation museum.
Thailand was the last country in the world flying the Helldiver, and with it’s retirement there, the story of this warrior of the 1940s Pacific came to a close.Repaint by Jan Kees Blom, based on the paint kit by Aeroplane Heaven.
