Built in 1939, this was the last SB2U-2 to be constructed and is now also the only surviving example of the Vindicator carrier dive-bomber. The type remained in service at the time of the Battle of Midway, but by 1943 all had been withdrawn to training units. While assigned to USS Wolverine, in June 1943 it crashed into Lake Michigan after a landing accident, the pilot being rescued after the aircraft slid off the carrier's deck. It was recovered in 1990 and after restoration was marked as an aircraft of USS Essex

'In McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design No 5.' Artist McClelland Barclay joined the Naval Reserve in 1938 and designed several 'dazzle' camouflage schemes. They were found to be ineffective. The source is sure that this is BuNo 1352 of squadron VB-2. In the background is SB2U-2 BuNo 0748 of the same unit. Photo from: Naval History and Heritage Command

The French navy received 40 V-156F dive-bombers in 1939. They suffered heavy losses during operations against the German army in May 1940. One squadron saw action against the Italians in June. Following the fall of France a follow-on order for 50 aircraft was taken over by Britain. Modified to V-156B-1 Chesapeake I standard, they were judged underpowered and used for second-line duties. It is reported that AL936 was written off while serving with No 811 Sqn which only operated the 'Cheesecake' for a few months in 1941. A Douglas Boston is also seen. Photo from: Flight

Part of a flight of SB2Us from the USS Saratoga that passed through Salt Lake City. Photo from: Salt Lake City Tribune / Utah Department of Heritage and Arts

260 SB2U built. Withdrawn from frontline service after the Battle of Midway, At the time of this photo VB-3 was stationed onboard the USS Saratoga, which was based on the West Coast. Photo from: Salt Lake City Tribune / Utah Department of Heritage and Arts

The SB2U was outdated by the time the US entered World War II in December 1941. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

Prototype of a long-range floatplane version of the SB2U. It was converted back to an SB2U-1. The designation SB2U-3 was reused for an upgraded version of the carrier-based dive bomber. Photo by: Rudy Arnold / Smithsonian Institution

The pilot's name on the plane is Aviation Cadet George H. Carter. The normal complement of a Navy squadron in 1939 was 18 planes, so this is a rare photo.

1939-built Vought Vindicator dive bomber - the last survivor of the type. Ditched in Lake Michigan on 21 June 1943 during a training flight and recovered postwar. Restored in the early WW2 markings of VB-2 Squadron USN.

This is the only SB2U extant and was delivered in July 1939, serving in patrol roles until it was transferred to Carrier Qualification Training Unit, Glenview NAS, IL. and assigned to the USS Wolverine (IX-64). It crashed a month later and sunk to the bottom of Lake Michigan, where it stayed until recovery in 1990. After restoration it is now on display at the National Naval Aviation Museum.