{"product_id":"hobby-master-helldiver-ha2209","title":"Hobby Master HA2209 SB2C Helldiver White 15 of VB-12, USS Randolph, Feb 1945","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe SB2C Helldiver was commonly referred to as “The Beast” because of its size and\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003erather poor handling characteristics. Even with new variants and upgrades the Helldiver\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003enever received the credit and respect it deserved. The most produced variant was the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“4” with the SB2C-4E equipped with an AN\/APS-4 radar pod mounted under the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003estarboard wing for air search. It flew faster and further than the Avenger, except for\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003erange it beat the SBD in every category. Its cruising speed was only 2 mph slower than\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe famous Hellcat.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn February 16-17 1945 Air Group 12 began attacks against mainland Japan. VB-12\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewith its 22 SB2Cs operating from the USS Randolph was part of the assaults on Tokyo\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand surrounding airfields and engine plants. Over the following week strikes would be\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003emade in support of the landing at Iwo Jima and the advance in land. On February 25,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1945 USS Randolph left the area and sailed for Ulithi. VB-12 had one of the most\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003edistinctive aircraft marking schemes in the PTO with the bold white striped tail and white\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eailerons as well as the aircraft number being placed just back of the engine cowling.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuring this time period a 3-digit aircraft numbering system was in use but VB-12 kept the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2-digit system.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hobby Master","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43750467174627,"sku":"4587","price":129.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0632\/5000\/6243\/products\/hobby-master-ha2209-sb2c-helldiver-white-15-of-vb-12-uss-randolph-feb-1945-908232.jpg?v=1738273283","url":"https:\/\/www.mtsaviationmodels.com\/products\/hobby-master-helldiver-ha2209","provider":"MTS Aviation Models","version":"1.0","type":"link"}