TBD Devastator

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Commanders Burch VS 5 Taylor VT 5 after Tulagi Raid 1942

Commanders Burch VS-5 and Taylor VT-5 aboard USS Yorktown (CV-5) after Tulagi Raid May 4, 1942

Devastators of the VT-5 from the USS Yorktown

Devastators of the VT-5 from the USS Yorktown

Devastators of VT-3 preparing to take off from the flight deck of USS Saratoga

Devastators of VT-3 preparing to take off from the flight deck of USS Saratoga 1938

Devastators VT-5 from the USS Yorktown over California 1940

Devastators VT-5 from the USS Yorktown over California 1940

Douglas TBD Devastator 6-T-1 of the VT-6 in flight, March 1939

Douglas TBD Devastator 6-T-1 of the VT-6 in flight, March 1939

Douglas TBD Devastator code 6-T-13 of the VT-6 1941

Douglas TBD Devastator code 6-T-13 of the VT-6 in flight, 1941

Douglas TBD Devastators of the VT-5 on the ground

Douglas TBD Devastators of the VT-5

Douglas TBD-1 BuNo 0268

Douglas TBD-1 BuNo 0268

Douglas TBD-1 Devastator 5-T-7 of VT-5 in flight

Douglas TBD-1 Devastator 5-T-7 of VT-5 in flight

Early TBD front view

Early TBD-1 front view

Formation of Devastators of VT-5 March 1940

Formation of Devastators of VT-5 March 1940

gunners cockpit in TBD Devastator

gunners cockpit in TBD Devastator

Carrier reloading crew rushing bombs to returning planes 1942

Lexington-class aircraft carrier reloading crew rushing bombs to returning planes 1942

Lt Cdr Lance E. Massey commander of VT-3 in cockpit of TBD, 24 May 1942

Lt Cdr Lance E. Massey commander of VT-3 in cockpit of TBD, 24 May 1942

Side view of the first production TBD-1 Devastator June 28 1937

Side view of the first production TBD-1 Devastator June 28, 1937

Squadron commander of VT-6 in the flight with the squadron overhead 1938

Squadron commander of VT-6 in the flight with the squadron overhead 1938

TBD 3-T-10 of the VT-3 BuNo 0370

TBD 3-T-10 of the VT-3 BuNo 0370

TBD 3-T-12 from USS Saratoga, October 1941

TBD 3-T-12 from USS Saratoga, October 1941

TBD Devastator – landing accident on USS Yorktown CV-5

TBD 5-T-11 landing accident on USS Yorktown CV-5. September 1940

TBD 6-T-1 BuNo 0322 from USS Enterprise

TBD 6-T-1 BuNo 0322 of VT-6 from USS Enterprise in flight

TBD assembly line at Douglas Aircraft Companys Santa Monica

TBD assembly line at Douglas Aircraft Companys Santa Monica

TBD BuNo 0362

TBD BuNo 0362

TBD Devastator code 6-T-16 of the VT-6 in flight – 1939

TBD Devastator code 6-T-16 of the VT-6 in flight - 1939

TBD Devastator during flight testing at Hamptom Roads

TBD Devastator during flight testing at Hamptom Roads

TBD is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 8

TBD Devastator is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 8

TBD is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 8 2

TBD Devastator is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 8 2

TBD Devastator torpedo bomber with its wing floats inflated 1937

TBD Devastator torpedo bomber with its wing floats inflated 1937

TBD Devastators of the Naval Operational Training Command at NAS Miami in flight over Atlantic 1942

TBD Devastators 600, 602, 603 of the Naval Operational Training Command at NAS Miami in flight over Atlantic 1942

TBD Devastators coded 7-T-7 and 7-T-9 of the VT-7, wings folded, RNAS Hatston

TBD Devastators coded 7-T-7 and 7-T-9 of the VT-7, wings folded, RNAS Hatston

TBD Devastators with wings folded – RNAS Hatston 1942

TBD Devastators with wings folded - RNAS Hatston 1942

TBD Devastator is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 7

TBD is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 7

TBD of the VT-3 with folded wings July 1938

TBD of the VT-3 with folded wings July 1938

TBD Devastators prepare to take off England

TBD prepare to take off England

TBD-1 Devastator of VT-6 off the carrier Enterprise on the ground at Oakland California June 11, 1939

TBD-1 0324 6-T-3 of VT-6 off the carrier Enterprise on the ground at Oakland California June 11, 1939

TBD-1 Devastator of VT-6 from USS Enterprise over Wake Island

TBD-1 Devastator 0368 "black 5" of VT-6 from USS Enterprise over Wake Island

TBD-1 Devastator 5-T-7 of VT-5 in flight over Southern California November 16, 1939

TBD-1 Devastator 5-T-7 of VT-5 in flight over Southern California November 16, 1939

TBD-1 Devastator front view

TBD-1 Devastator front

TBD-1 Devastator of VT-3 in a camouflaged revetment at NAS Kaneohe May 29, 1942

TBD-1 Devastator of VT-3 in a camouflaged revetment at NAS Kaneohe May 29, 1942

TBD-1 Devastator of VT 5 undergoing maintenance at NAS Norfolk December 16 1941

TBD-1 Devastator of VT-5 undergoing maintenance at NAS Norfolk December 16, 1941

Douglas TBD-1 Devastator USS Enterprise CV-6 1941

TBD-1 Devastator USS Enterprise CV-6 1941

Douglas TBD-1 Devastators code 2-T-9, 2-T-7, 2-T-8 of Torpedo Squadron VT-2

TBD-1 Devastators 2-T-9, 2-T-7, 2-T-8 of Torpedo Squadron VT-2

Battle of Midway: TBD-1 Devastators of the VT-6 are prepared for launching on USS Enterprise at about 0730, 4 June 1942

TBD-1 Devastators of the VT-6 are prepared for launching on USS Enterprise at about 0730, 4 June 1942 - Battle of Midway

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-2 in formation January 6, 1941

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-2 in formation January 6, 1941

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-3 on aircraft Carrier USS Saratoga 1941

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-3 on aircraft Carrier USS Saratoga 1941

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-4 on the flight deck of the carrier USS Ranger CV-4 in June 1942

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-4 USS Ranger CV-4 in June 1942

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-6 lined up for launch, USS Enterprise on May 4 1942

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-6 lined up for launch, USS Enterprise on May 4, 1942

TBD-1 of VT-6 on the flight deck of USS Enterprise – Doolittle Raid April 11, 1942

TBD-1 Devastators of VT-6 on the flight deck of USS Enterprise - Doolittle Raid April 11, 1942

TBD-1 code 4-T-2 of the VT-4 July 28, 1942

TBD-1 of the VT-4 from USS Ranger July 28, 1942

TBD-1 of VT-6 and F3F-2 of VF-6 and SBC-1 VS-6 in flight over Virginia

TBD-1 of VT-6 and F3F-2 of VF-6 and SBC-1 VS-6 in flight over Virginia

TBD-1 of VT-6 from USS Enterprise over Wake Island 24 February 1942

TBD-1 of VT-6 from USS Enterprise over Wake Island 24 February 1942

TBD-1 Devastator torpedo mounting

TBD-1 torpedo mounting

TBD-A Devastator at the Newport Torpedo Station Rhode Island 10 October 1941

TBD-1A at the Newport Torpedo Station Rhode Island 10 October 1941

Floatplane TBD-1A Devastator 2X-D1-1 BuNo 0268 1939 2

TBD-1A Devastator 2X-D1-1 BuNo 0268 1939 2

TBD-1A Devastator BuNo 0268 1939

TBD-1A Devastator BuNo 0268 1939

cockpit of a Douglas TBD Devastator

The cockpit interior of a Douglas TBD Devastator

XTBD-1 BuNo 9720, 1935

XTBD-1 BuNo 9720, 1935

XTBD-1 Devastator

XTBD-1 Devastator

XTBD-1 Devastator on the ground – 1936

XTBD-1 Devastator 1936

XTBD-1 Devastator 9720 in flight over the Virginia countryside on July 12 1935

XTBD-1 Devastator 9720 in flight over the Virginia countryside on July 12, 1935

XTBD-1 Devastator in fight near NAS Anacostia October 14, 1935

XTBD-1 Devastator in fight near NAS Anacostia October 14, 1935

XTBD-1 near NAS Anacostia October 14, 1935

XTBD-1 near NAS Anacostia October 14, 1935

Douglas TBD Devastator - American torpedo bomber of the United States Navy, ordered in 1934, which entered service in 1937. Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company, El Segundo, California. Crew: pilot, torpedo officer (navigator) and gunner. Power plant: Two-row, 14-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 (900 hp, 672 kW) driving a three-bladed Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propeller. Armament: 1 x fixed forward firing 7,62 mm (.30 in) machine gun, one flexible 7,62 mm (.30 in) rear machine gun, and up to 454 kg (1,000 lbs.) of bombs or one torpedo carried externally. Total produced: 130 Serials: XTBD-1: 9720 TBD-1: 0268-0381 and 1505-1519 Bibliography:

  • Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" - B.R. Jackson, T.E. Doll, James Dietz; Tab Books 1972
  • U.S. Navy Carrier Bombers of WWII: TBD Devastator, SBD Dauntless, SB2C Helldiver, TBF/TBM Avenger - Squadron/Signal Publications Aerodata International 6205, 1987
  • TBD Devastator Units of the US Navy - Barrett Tillman, Tom Tullis; Osprey Combat Aircraft 20
  • Douglas TBD Devastator, SBD Dauntless - Wydawnictwo Militaria 119 (Polish/English)
  • TBD Devastator in action - Al Adcock, Squadron/Signal Publications Aircraft 97
  • The Douglas TBD Devastator - Thomas E. Doll; Aircraft Profile Number 171
  • US Navy Aircraft Camouflage & Markings 1940-1945 - Thomas E. Doll; Squadron/Signal Publications 6087
  • Flight Deck: WWII US Navy Carrier Operation, 1940-1945 - Al Adcock, Squadron/Signal Publications
  • United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 - Gordon Swanborough, Peter M Bowers
  • Navy Air Colors: United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Aircraft Camouflage and Markings, Vol. 1, 1911-1945 - Thomas E. Doll, Barkley R. Jackson; Squadron/Signal Publications 6159
  • The Official Monogram U.S. Navy & Marine Corps Aircraft Color Guide, Vol 2: 1940-1949 - John M. Elliott, Monogram Aviation Publications 1989
  • R. Johnson – United States Naval Aviation, 1919-1941: Aircraft, Airships and Ships Between the Wars
  • Steve Ginter - Douglas TBD Devastator, Naval Fighters number 71
  • Craig L. Symonds - The Battle of Midway
  • Charles River Editors - The Battle of the Coral Sea: The History and Legacy of World War II's First Major Battle Between Aircraft Carriers
  • Jonathan Parshall, Anthony Tully - Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway
  • Stephen L. Moore - Pacific Payback: The Carrier Aviators Who Avenged Pearl Harbor at the Battle of Midway