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Jeff Groves
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Flyhawk Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless of LTJG Jack “Dusty” Kleiss

August 21, 2024 · in Aviation · · 16 · 306

LTJG Jack “Dusty” Kleiss was a Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber pilot with Scouting Six flying from the USS Enterprise (CV-6). His first combat was during the raid on Kwajalein Atoll where he hit Japanese shore installations and damaged the cruiser Katori. The Enterprise went on to raid Japanese installations on Wake Island and Marcus Island. Kleiss received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions during these raids.

During the pivotal battle of Midway on 04JUN42 approximately three hundred US aircraft from three aircraft carriers and Midway Island attacked the four Japanese carriers, dropping hundreds of bombs and torpedoes. Many crews were lost. In spite of all that effort and sacrifice, only thirteen bombs actually hit the Japanese carriers, all of them dropped by Dauntless pilots from the Yorktown and the Enterprise. “Dusty” Kleiss hit two of the carriers, first Kaga and then Hiryu in a later strike. On the 6th he also hit the damaged heavy cruiser Mikuma. All three Japanese ships were sunk. Another Enterprise SBD pilot, LT Dick Best of VB-6, scored hits on the carriers Akagi and Hiryu. Between them, Kleiss and Best were responsible for 30% of the hits on the Japanese carriers during the Battle of Midway. Both Kleiss and Best were awarded the Navy Cross for their actions.

Kleiss was assigned to instructor duty after Midway and survived the war. He lived to be 100, passing away on 22APR2016.

Flyhawk is best known for their ship kits, and to a lesser extent, their 1/72 scale armor. In 2021 they branched out into aircraft with their 1/72 scale Dauntless. The kit became an immediate hit and is widely regarded as the best Dauntless in the scale. This is an excellent kit with exceptional detail, a remarkable effort for Flyhawk's first aircraft subject. If you're a fan of the Dauntless you will not want to miss this kit.

The model depicts the Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless flown by LTJG Jack “Dusty” Kleiss and Radioman John Snowden at the Battle of Midway.

Construction posts here: https://inchhighguy.wordpress.com/2024/08/02/flyhawk-douglas-sbd-3-dauntless-build-in-1-72-scale-part-i/

Reader reactions:
22  Awesome 4 

10 additional images. Click to enlarge.


16 responses

  1. VERY well done. Build & finish...super.

  2. A great testament to how good this kit is, as your fine work and photography makes it look every bit the part of a 1/48 kit, at least. Fantastic work, and as always, thanks for sharing with us!

  3. Man, that Flyhawk kit looks like the real deal - the cat's pajamas (I don't know why I said cat's pajamas)
    In every view, an amazing looking build Jeff.

  4. Excellent result, Jeff! Easily fooling the scale!

  5. Amazing result on this Dauntless, Jeff @inchhigh
    Besides the quality of this kit, also your skills are definitely superb.
    Never seen this Flyhawk kit but I definitely will add it to my wishlist.

  6. Nice build, Jeff. Could pass for 1/48

  7. Very well done!

  8. I agree with all of the above including it’s “the cat’s pajamas,” though that is something of a lost idiom. Now if George had said it’s the bee’s knees . . .

    I am going to have to go to the build thread just if just to see how you attached those itty bitty antenna wires.

    • The antenna wires are made from 0.004" Nitenol wire, which you should be able to find on Amazon and other places on line. They are glued in place with Micro LiquiTape.

  9. Excellent work and love the natural light pics. Great choice of aircrew to pick from. Thanks for sharing.

    Rod

  10. a beauty! That kit looks great, as does your effort to bring it to life. Well done.

  11. Beautiful job, Jeff. I have always liked the looks of the Dauntless, and you've done a gerat job bringing this little 1/72nd scale beauty to life! You've done a beautiful job with the background pics.

  12. Very nice work on this Jeff. When I saw the first photo on the headlines page, I thought it was an Accurate Miniatures 1/48 kit.

  13. Thanks for all the kind words guys, the Flyhawk SBD is an excellent kit, recommended!

  14. Fantastic build and finish.

  15. Very nice work! I don’t know about this brand in 1/72 scale aviation.

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