With their stout airframes, innovative airbrake designs and near-vertical dive capabilities, U.S. Navy torpedo and dive bombers rendered Japanese deck gunners nearly defenseless and played a crucial role in the course of the war in the Pacific. This photo history uses remarkable color photography from the period, along with quotes and anecdotes from pilots and crewmembers, to relate the stories behind Navy dive bombers over the Pacific. Included in the collection are the legendary SBD ("Slow But Deadly") Dauntless, SBC Helldiver, TBD Devastator and TBF and TBM Avengers. In addition to the aircraft, photographs depict American servicemen testing and training, while first-person accounts tell of missions against Japanese vessels.

Includes bibliographical references and index.