Dive Bombers And Perforated Dive Brakes

[SkyPup]

Some of us were wondering about the purpose of the perforated dive brakes on the SBD. Turns out it was to reduce longitudinal instability and buffeting in the dive. Good article here:

http://www.vectorsite.net/avsbd.html

And for the technically minded, a wind tunnel report (from 1941) here:

http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc61452/m1/1/