A-24 Banshee
A-24 Banshee
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The Douglas A-24 Banshee was the U.S. Army Air Forces’ land-based counterpart to the famed Navy SBD Dauntless. Built around the same rugged airframe, perforated dive brakes, and steep-attack capability that made the Dauntless legendary in the Pacific, the Banshee was adapted for Army service without the carrier-specific equipment of its naval relative.
Among the rare surviving examples is Douglas A-24B-15-DT serial 42-54682, construction number 17521. Accepted by the U.S. Army Air Forces on November 8, 1943, it was soon routed through San Antonio for transfer to the Mexican Air Force under Lend-Lease. After its military service it entered civilian hands in Mexico as XB-ZAH before being purchased in 1964 by pioneering warbird collector Frank Tallman. It was displayed with the Movieland of the Air collection, later passed through multiple owners, and was eventually preserved by the Admiral Nimitz Foundation in Fredericksburg, Texas.
In 1994 the aircraft became part of the Lone Star Flight Museum collection, where it was restored to airworthy condition and returned to flight in 1997 as N93RW, wearing Navy Dauntless-style markings that honored the combat legacy of the design. Today this remarkable Banshee still soars the skies apart of the Fagan Fighters collection.
In 2025 we acquired original skin material from this very airframe from a private collector in Texas who sourced the material from the Lone Star Flight Museum after its restoration. In 2026 those historic panels were thoughtfully upcycled into our TransportTags—each tag carrying the texture, marks, and story of a rare surviving A-24 Banshee. A tangible link to the Dauntless family’s legacy of strength, preservation, and living aviation history.
Vehicle History
Vehicle History
The Douglas A-24 Banshee was born from the U.S. Army’s urgent desire for a modern dive bomber after the early successes of the German Ju 87 Stuka in 1939–40. Rather than develop an entirely new aircraft, the Army ordered a land-based version of the Navy’s already-proven SBD Dauntless. The resulting A-24 kept the same tough airframe, perforated dive flaps, and steep diving capability, but deleted the carrier arrestor hook and substituted a pneumatic tailwheel better suited to land operations.
Three main variants were produced: the initial A-24 (based on the SBD-3), the A-24A (SBD-4 equivalent), and the most numerous A-24B (based on the SBD-5 with its more powerful 1,200 hp Wright R-1820-60 engine). In total, just under 1,000 Banshees were built. Early combat use in the Philippines, Java, and New Guinea proved costly; without adequate fighter escort or armor, the slow, lightly protected dive bombers suffered heavy losses and were quickly withdrawn from front-line service. Thereafter most served in training roles or secondary theaters.
While the Navy’s SBD Dauntless went on to become one of the most celebrated combat aircraft of the Pacific war, the Army’s A-24 Banshee remained a quieter, often overlooked chapter of dive-bomber history. The few airframes that survived into the postwar years—especially those that later returned to flight—carry a unique dual legacy: the shared DNA of the legendary Dauntless and the less-told story of the Army’s brief experiment with the dive-bomber concept.
Product Specifics
Product Specifics
Tag backs will be blank unless personalization is selected at checkout.
Vehicle Stats
Vehicle Stats
Douglas A-24B Banshee (representative figures for the A-24B series)
• Crew: 2 (pilot and rear gunner/observer)
• Length: 33 ft 1 in (10.08 m)
• Wingspan: 41 ft 6 in / 41 ft 7 in (12.65–12.67 m)
• Height: 13 ft 7 in (4.14 m)
• Empty weight: approx. 6,200–6,500 lb
• Maximum takeoff weight: approx. 10,200 lb
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-60 Cyclone radial engine, 1,200 hp
• Maximum speed: 250–255 mph (402–410 km/h)
• Service ceiling: 25,500–26,000 ft
• Range: approximately 1,100–1,115 miles
• Armament:
– 2 × .50-caliber machine guns in the nose
– 2 × .30-caliber flexible machine guns in the rear cockpit
– Up to 1,600 lb of bombs (centerline and underwing racks)
• Notable feature: Perforated dive brakes allowing stable, steep-angle dive attacks
Product Dimensions
Product Dimensions
Card Dimensions
Length: 5 1/2"
Width: 3 1/2"
Tag Dimensions
Length: 3"
Width: 1.75"
Thickness:
Regular Tags: 1.3mm - 6.8mm
Thick Tags: 9.1mm - 10.5mm
Disclaimer
Disclaimer
TransportTags are unique, handcrafted pieces made from genuine vehicle skin. Features like scratches, blemishes, or minor discolorations testify to their unique vintage appeal and authenticity. By purchasing, you accept the product may differ slightly from website images. Transport Tags LLC uses authentic material from transportation vehicles, potential containing hazardous substances. Not intended for ingestion, inhalation, or use by small children. Transport Tags LLC is an independent company, not affiliated with, sponsored or endorsed by any entities. We use branded names and insignia for identification under the provisions of the Lanham Act, without implying any association or endorsement. For more information, read our detailed product safety and legal information here.
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