Douglas SBD Dauntless
The Dauntless, "Speedy D" to its pilots, was the best of the American dive bombers, and sank more shipping than any other Allied aircraft during the war, including six Japanese carriers. In other words, most of them. A Dauntless pilot, Stanley "Swede" Vejtasa, managed to fight off eight zeroes single-handedly once, downing three of them (he was immediately transferred to fighters afterward), a tribute to both his skill and the plane's durability.
Cool stuff for Dauntless lovers: