| Radioman-Gunner of an SBD Dauntless scout-bomber Aims his plane’s twin .30 caliber machine guns aboard USS Independence (CV-22), during the carrier’s shakedown period. Note the guns’ armor plate, gunsight, and variety of bullet types (with tip marking sequence: red, black, light blue & plain). Composite Squadron 22 (VC-22) had 9 Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers and 9 Grumman TBF-1 Avenger torpedo bombers. Fighting Squadron 22 (VF-22) had 12 Grumman F4F-4 Wildcats in April 1943. By mid-August, the fixed-wing Dauntlesses would be deemed too large for safe operation from light carriers and removed from Independence’s Air Group. Fighting 6 would come aboard for tests with 24 Grumman F6F-3 Hellcats, and VC-22 would retain the 9 TBF-1 Avengers. The Dauntlesses were finally removed after the October 5-6, 1943, strikes on Wake Island. VF-22 returned with F6F-3 Hellcats for the Gilberts invasion. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1904.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.29 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 3704 x 5676 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | United States Navy |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | April 30, 1943 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | |
| Country | Caribbean |
| Archive | Naval History and Heritage Command |
| Record Number | 80-G-K-787 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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