SBW-3 Helldiver

The SBW‑3 Helldiver was the Canadian‑built version of the US Navy’s Douglas S‑BD aircraft, produced under license by Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) during World War II. First rolled out in early 1943, a total of 350 airframes were completed, most being assigned to the Royal Canadian Navy’s Fleet Air Arm. The SBW‑3 entered service with several Commonwealth squadrons, providing a rugged carrier‑borne dive‑bomber capable of striking naval and ground targets. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R‑2800‑18W twin‑row radial engine delivering 2,000 hp, the aircraft could reach 395 km/h and carry up to 1,000 lb of bombs or a single 20 mm cannon in the nose. Its distinctive split‑flap dive brakes, reinforced wing spars, and all‑metal semi‑monocoque airframe made it exceptionally stable during steep dives and resistant to battle damage. The SBW‑3 also featured folding wings for shipboard storage and a robust arrestor hook for carrier landings. After the war it served in transport and training until the early 1950s. Though superseded by newer designs, the Helldiver demonstrated Canada’s industrial capacity to mass‑produce advanced combat aircraft and contributed to Allied naval air supremacy in the Atlantic and Pacific theatres. Its legacy endures as a milestone in Canadian aviation manufacturing.