80-G-10152, US Navy Photogrpah

Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless scout bombers preparing to take off, during operations in the Coral Sea, 18 April 1942. The first plane is from Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5). Note that it has no insignia painted under its starboard wing, and that the insignia below its port wing is much smaller than that on the next SBD. Man standing at left, just beyond the first plane's wingtip, is Boatswain Chester E. Briggs, Jr. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.