https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_SBD_Dauntless

David Turner Roberson Commissioned Aug 1943

An Ensign A-V 👎 refers to a specific rank and designation code used by the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve (USNR) primarily during the World War II era.Ensign (O-1): The lowest commissioned officer rank in the U.S. Navy. A: Denotes an Aviation officer.V: Denotes the Volunteer branch of the Naval Reserve. (N): I ndicates an officer commissioned and designated as a Naval Aviator directly upon completion of training as an Aviation Cadet. Historical Context During the massive military buildup of the 1930s and 1940s, the Navy used specific alphabetical codes to categorize Naval Reservists.

The A-V(N) designation was specifically reserved for Aviation Cadets who successfully completed their demanding flight training and earned their "Wings of Gold". Upon winging, these cadets were immediately commissioned as Ensigns in the USNR. Many famous WWII "Flying Midshipmen" and combat pilots held this exact designation in the early years of the Pacific War. Naval Resources For more on how officers were integrated into the reserves, read this U.S. Naval Institute historical article.To explore the full directory of officer classifications, view the historic Ranks and Rates of the U.S. Navy index.