US Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless during Palau Air Raid Attack

Close-up, in-flight view of a US Navy Douglas SBD Dauntless "35" piloted by Lieutenant Commander George Thomas Glacken (left) with his gunner Leo Boulanger, near New Guinea, during Palau air raid attack, 30 March 1944. Photo by LIFE photographer J.R. Eyerman. Glacken (18 December 1916 - 4 May 1990) would received the Navy Cross in 8 July 1944 for "extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Pilot of a carrier-based Navy Dive Bomber in Bombing Squadron SIXTEEN (VB-16), attached to the U.S.S. LEXINGTON (CV-16), in action against enemy Japanese forces in the First Battle of the Philippine Sea, on 20 June 1944. Participating in a long-range attack on major units of the Japanese Fleet, Lieutenant Glacken skillfully maneuvered his plane to evade determined fighter opposition and intense enemy anti-aircraft fire in the ensuing action and assisted essentially in the sinking of a large enemy aircraft carrier, in the probable sinking of another large carrier and in shooting down two enemy fighter planes. Upon fulfillment of the critical mission, Lieutenant Glacken succeeded in completing the long return flight to base and in effecting a safe night landing aboard the LEXINGTON. His cool courage, skilled airmanship and devotion to duty throughout this decisive action reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Glacken and the United States Naval Service."

Source:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3869050
http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/close-up-in-flight-view-of-a-douglas-sbd-dauntless-piloted-news-photo/56666274
http://projects.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=19172

Flight Deck of American Aircraft Carrier Filled with Whirling Propellers

The flight deck crew prepares Grumman F6F Hellcat fighters of VF-16 and Douglas SBD Dauntless dive-bombers for launch from the USS Lexington (CV-16), en route near New Guinea during Palau air attacks (known as "Operation Desecrate One"), 30 March 1944. The Hellcats still sporting three tone camouflage and non-geometric tail patterns. At that day, the Japanese anchorage at Palau was attacked by F6F Hellcats, SBD Dauntless, TBF Avenger and SB2C Helldiver flown from carrier aircraft from Task Group 58. 1's USS Enterprise (CV-6), USS Belleau Wood (CVL-24) and USS Cowpens (CVL-25), TG 58. 2's USS Bunker Hill (CV-17), USS Hornet (CV-12), USS Monterey (CVL-26) and USS Cabot (CVL-28) and TG 58. 3's USS Yorktown (CV-10), USS Lexington (CV-16), USS Princeton (CVL-23) and USS Langley (CVL-27). The picture was taken by LIFE photographer J.R. Eyerman

Source:
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/995f2bcb074221a1.html

US Navy SBD Dauntless in Flight during Palau Attack

US Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless dive bomber of bombing squadron VB-10 in flight during Palau Islands air raid attack in 30 March 1944. One of the last two SBD squadrons to operate from U.S. fleet carriers during the Second World War, VB-10 flew from the deck of the "Big E" during the period January-July 1944, and participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19-20 June 1944. Over the next two days, the 11 fast carriers of TF-58 attacked Japanese bases in the western Carolines while amphibious forces landed at Hollandia, New Guinea. Three TBF squadrons mined Palau Harbor while SBDs and other aircraft claimed 28 ships sunk of 108,000 gross tons! Note the gunner in the rear of the Dauntless, at the ready with his twin .30-calibers.

Source:
Book "SBD Dauntless Units of World War 2" by Barrett Tillman
http://time.com/photography/life/