The Museum’s SBD-5 is a World War II Combat Veteran. Following shipment to Espirito Santo in the combat zone, the aircraft was assigned to Squadron 25 of the Royal New Zealand Air Force. It flew 28 combat missions from the South Pacific island of Bougainville. In May 1944, it transferred to the U.S. Marine Corps. For the remainder of the war the aircraft served with six different Marine and U.S. Navy squadrons. After the war, it was sold to Warner Bros, appearing in films and serving as a wind machine. The Museum acquired it in 1959 and restored it to flight in 1987.