Bearcats were a wartime development, tested, and actually built before the war ended. As with the F7F Tigercat, they were en route to the Pacific when the war ended. My grandfather was a radio operator aboard the USS Langley (CVL-27) that carried VF-18 and 19 to the PTO in June/July of '45. So technically, yes, they were squadron strength before the end of the war, but they obviously never saw combat. Hell, even the AD-1 Skyraider was designed, tested and flown before the end of WW2, albeit in protoype form.
The SBD was loved by its crews (had lunch with an SBD driver the other day!). The SB2C, especially the early variants, were not. Although faster and capable of carrying a bigger payload, it was a larger target that was difficult to fly, had a slew of problems including structural failures, electrical problems, and directional instability. These were all addressed by the time -4 arrived and it went on to be a successful aircraft. Same thing with the B-26 initially, and it went on to be the most-survivable bomber of WW2.
One of the problems we face with dive bombing in AH is that typically, there's only a couple of ppl attacking a CV group at any one time. With ack the way it is, a single a/c has far less of a chance of surviving than a typical squadron strength of 12 aircraft, so ppl don't do it. Besides that, with P-47s and -38s carrying as much (or more) as a dive bomber, the ability to tangle with fighters once you drop your bombs is more desirable. But... if 12 SBDs came down on a CV at the same time, chances are its over for the CV, as the ack can't get everyone at the same time.
As for the original list...here's my short list...
A-26 Invader, PB4Y-2, He-177, J2M, G.55, Yak-3
Course, since its a wishlist, how about SAR, artillery, and the ability to bring tanks ashore with LSTs?
Donning my Kevlar and heading for the bunker, flame away!
