The first actual "Dauntless" variant to see squadron service was the SBD-1.  Surprisingly, these first aircraft were initially assigned to the USMC due to their lack of self-sealing fuel tanks and other non-combatworthy equipment.  Regardless, they were greeted with enthusiasm, as the Marines heretofore had made do with older, obsolescent equipment.

The example below, BuNo 1612, was raised from Lake Michigan in the 1990s and photographed by Owen Miller on two occasions:  once while in store awaiting attention at the USS Alabama memorial in 1994, and again while back in storage with the NMNA in Pensacola in May 1997.

Originally delivered to VMB-1 as 2-MB-15, her original colors show through on the wings and fuselage; note also the outline of the stars and squadron markings from late 1940- early 1941.  Other points to note are the early-style column grip and interior green paint...more on this below.

       

       

       

    

Contrary to what many (including myself) have thought, the application of Interior Green to interior surfaces of USN aircraft did carry over into the Golden Wings aircraft, as evidenced by the aircraft above and the contemporary photos below (furnished by Pete Chalmers):