SBW Helldiver

The SBW Helldiver was a licensed version of the Douglas S‑BD‑4B dive bomber produced in Canada during World II. In 1939 Canadian Car and Foundry (CCF) secured a contract from the United States Navy to build the aircraft under the designation SBW, the “S” indicating a built‑under‑license model and “BW” the CCF plant code. Production ran from 1941 to 1944 at CCF’s Fort William and St. Catharines facilities, delivering 1,125 airframes to the RCAF and to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.

Key features included a sturdy all‑metal airframe, a 1,200 hp Wright R‑1820‑94 Cyclone radial engine, and hydraulically operated dive brakes that allowed precise 70‑degree attacks. The Helldiver’s large internal bomb bay could carry up to 1,600 lb of ordnance, and it was armed with four .50 caliber machine guns. Its rugged construction and powerful engine gave it superior speed and dive performance compared to earlier dive bombers.

The aircraft’s significance lies in its contribution to the Allied war effort, providing Canada with an indigenous production capability that bolstered its aerospace industry. The SBW Helldiver also served as a stepping stone toward post‑war Canadian aircraft design, influencing later CCF models such as the North Star transport and the Avro CF‑100 interceptor.