Near the end of World War I, Germany had success with planes designed specifically for the ground attack role. When World War II began the Germans had successfully used Junkers Ju-87 “Stuka” dive bombers in both their Polish and French campaigns, which convinced US Army war planners that the US Army needed a dive bomber. The US Navy already had one, the Douglas Dauntless. The US Army Air Corps purchased Douglas A-24 Dauntless dive bombers to fill the ground attack role. Used primarily in the Pacific early in the war, pilots complained of limited range and that the Dauntless was too slow. Most A-24s purchased by the US Army Air Corps ended up relegated to non-combat roles and eventually as towed practice targets.
For more information see: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=472
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