The Big Strip:
Following its arrival in late May, the restoration team at Pioneer Aero Ltd. has finally had the opportunity to start working on the fuselage of SBD-5 BuNo 36175. They began by stripping out all of the aircraft's systems - electrical, hydraulic and mechanical - endeavoring to disconnect them from their original connection points as much as possible, although corrosion and impact damage prevented this in some cases.
The Gunners Compartment:
The images below show the rear gunner's compartment during the teardown process. While it may seem incongruous to some, the SBD came equipped with a second control column and rudder pedals. Note the provision for a second control stick and rudder pedals. For normal operations, the stick would have been stowed on the left side of the cockpit wall. A comparison image showing the gunner's cockpit in the National Air & Space Museum's fully-restored SBD-6 is provided. Quite how anyone in the rear cockpit could have flown a Dauntless safely from this position is uncertain, but it might have been helpful having a second set of hands to assist with the pull out on a dive bombing run. Whether such an option was exercised in combat is uncertain.
This is a view inside the gunner's cockpit (looking forward) before systems removal began. Running down the centre is the torque tube for the aircraft’s control stick interconnect, with the empty stick mount socket at the lower edge of the image (the aircraft could be set up for dual control). Looking forwards, you can see the bulkhead separating the two cockpits. Numerous hydraulic lines and electrical cables are visible, as are some of the radio equipment racks. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A view of the rear gunner's cockpit following the removal of most systems. The radio trays have yet to be de-riveted and removed. Similarly, the remaining sections of the fuel vent tubing need to be disconnected from beneath the flooring. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Another view of the gunner's cockpit after stripping out the equipment, this time looking straight down at the floor (the top of the image being the forward edge). While not immediately recognizable, perhaps, the rectangular protuberances almost half way up either side of the image are actually the interior sides of the fuselage foot wells which aircrew (and maintainers) use to access the cockpit. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A reference image from inside the gunner's cockpit of the Smithsonian's SBD-6 showing the equipment arrangement much as it might have looked like in MAM's SBD-5. Note the radio suite, control column and rudder pedals. (image via NASM)
The Cockpit:
It was interesting to observe the difference in preservation of similar components within relative proximity to one another. While some items were in almost perfect condition, others nearby were almost completely corroded away.
This is in the pilot’s cockpit, looking forwards, before systems removal began. The troughs for the two fixed fuselage mounted .50 calibre machine guns are evident at the top of the frame. The right hand auxiliary instrument panel and electrical distribution box are also visible, as are various plumbing and electrical lines forward of the rudder pedals. The control stick interconnect tube can be seen at the lower center of the image, while the arrestor hook handle is evident at the lower left. (image via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
This is in the pilots cockpit looking forward after removing most of the various systems. The arrestor hook has yet to be removed (lower left), as has the linkage for the control column interconnect (lower centre). While some of the gaps in the floor are due to crash damage, the opening between the rudder pedal mounts is actually the window which the pilot would look through for sighting during dive bombing operations. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
This is a close up of the the forward right corner of the pilots cockpit before equipment removal began. Visible here are the rudder pedal in the lower left corner (note the tread), the hydraulic tank with sight glass at lower right, and various plumbing and electrical lines. Note the differing condition of the hydraulic fittings into and around the tank; some are nearly perfect, while others are badly corroded. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Another view of the pilot’s cockpit, this time from further back, following the initiation of parts removal. Most of the hydraulic and electrical lines have gone, as have the electrical distribution box and auxiliary panel from the right side of the image. The right rudder pedal and the hydraulic tank were the next components removed. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
Another view inside the pilot's cockpit, this time looking straight down. (photo via Pioneer Aero Ltd.)
A comparison image, showing the layout of the SBD-6 Dauntless in the Smithsonian's collection. Of note, this example has empty spaces where the forward-firing machine guns would have sat in MAM's SBD-5. (image via NASM)
Once the systems have all been stripped from the fuselage, the next step will involve drilling off the non-structural components, (e.g. the fuel selector mount, radio mount trays, etc.). This will allow access to the structural joints which need drilling apart so that the fuselage/center section can be separated into its major components. That is when the serious restoration work can begin!