In warfare, as in business, timing and location are everything.rnThe classic Douglas dive-bomber of World War II served the Navy brilliantly as the SBD Dauntless, while the virtually identical A-24 Banshee had only a mediocre career with the US Army Air Forces. There were many reasons for this, but the main one was the combination of the Navy's long-standing training in dive-bombing and the nature of its targets, which allowed the SBD to perform.rnIn contrast, dive-bombing was thrust upon the heavy-bomber-centric AAF following the spectacular successes of the German Junkers Ju 87 Stuka inrnthe initial phases of World War II. The undeniably menacing look of the Ju 87 certainly made the pitch easier as well.
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