A rival designer's measured verdict on the Helldiver

Douglas designer Ed Heinemann had every competitive incentive to criticize Curtiss because the Helldiver displaced his company's Dauntless. Even so, he described it as fine in many respects while faulting its expense, weight growth, and limited improvement over the SBD. His account also highlights Curtiss's optimistic weight promise and the much heavier aircraft that emerged. Heinemann's verdict is especially useful because it separates serious procurement shortcomings from the stronger popular claim that the aircraft was wholly bad.