TBD's ...

[Mark Allen M]

Source, San Diego Air and Space Museum archives, National Museum of Naval Aviation, Library of Congress photo archives.


Douglas TBD Devastator of torpedo squadron VT-3 Oakland, CA


Douglas TBD Devastator of torpedo squadron VT-3 Oakland, CA


Douglas TBD Devastator


Douglas TBD Devastator


Douglas TBD Devastator


Douglas TBD Devastator


Two TBD-1's pictured on the ground at the Overhaul and Repair Facility at NAS Pensacola FL The aircraft were assigned to Squadron Five at the station


TBD-1 Devastator of Torpedo Squadron Three VT-3 pictured in a camoflauged revetment at NAS Kaneohe TH just days before the Battle of Midway


TBD-1's of Torpedo Squadron Seven VT-7 off USS Wasp CV-7 pictured on the ground at Royal Naval Air Station RNAS Hatston Orkney Islands


TBD-1's of Torpedo Squadron Seven VT-7 off USS Wasp CV-7 pictured on the ground at Scapa Flow Orkeny Islands


TDB-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Five VT-5 pictured with their wings folded on the flightline at NAS Norfolk VA


TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Five VT-5 pictured maneuvering on the flightline at Oakland CA


TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Three VT-3 pictured at NAS San Diego CA


TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Three VT-3 lined-up prior to launch from USS Saratoga CV-3


Several TBD-1's lined up for takeoff on carrier flight deck


Sailors on the flight deck of USS Saratoga CV-3 inspect TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Three VT-3


Ground personnel push a TBD-1 of Torpedo Squadron Eight VT-8 into place at NAS Norfolk VA


Three TBD-1's of Torpedo Squadron Six VT-6 pictured on the ground at an unidentified airfield located in the American Southwest


TBD-1 Devastator of Torpedo Squadron Four VT-4 pictured during launch from an aircraft carrier possibly USS Charger AVG-30


TBD-1 of Torpedo Squadron Six VT-6 pictured in flight over Hawaii


TBD-1 of Torpedo Squadron Six VT-6 pictured in flight probably over Virginia


TBD-1 Devastator of Torpedo Squadron Five VT-5 pictured in flight


A TBD-1 of Torpedo Squadron SI x VT-6 joins an F3F-2 of Fighting Squadron Six VF-6 and an SBC-1 of Scouting Squadron Six VS-6 in a flight over the Virginia countryside


Three TBD-1's assigned to the Naval Operational Training Command at NAS Miami FL pictured in flight over South Florida


Three TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Two VT-2 pictured in formation over unidentified location


TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Five VT-5 pictured in formation near San Diego CA


Three TBD-1 Devastators of Torpedo Squadron Two VT-2 pictured in formation over San Diego CA


Nine TBD-1's of Torpedo Squadron Two VT-2 pictured in formation somewhere over California


Mass formation flight of TBD-1 Devastators assigned to Torpedo Squadron Three VT-3 The photograph was taken over Long Beach CA


Airplanes of a complete carrier air group from either Yorktown CV5 or Enterprise CV6 pictured in flight over ships during exercises at sea


Crewmen observe a TBD-1 of Torpedo Squadron Six VT-6 after a landing accident on board USS Enterprise CV-6

[Junkyard36]

Loving these pics! As with your other photo threads, please keep them coming!

[Noha307]

Forgive the ignorance, but what is up with the ribbing on the wings?

[Russ Matthews]

Not surpringly, I'm a fan of this thread. There are several photos here I've never seen before .. and that IS a suprise. Thanks for that!

[Russ Matthews]

Forgive the ignorance, but what is up with the ribbing on the wings?

The "ribbing on the wings" is for added strength. It was pretty common to use corrugated aluminum in aircraft construction during that transitional era, moving from biplanes to monoplanes. You can see the same technique applied to the famed Ford trimotor and a lot of the early Fokkers. Even Lockheed's sleek Model 10 Electra sports a corrugated metal wing structure beneath the smooth, streamlined outer skin.

[Mark Allen M]

Correct you are TBDude and for concuring with my hypothisis on the Clipper thread, you must be rewarded ... Source NMNA archives


The first production TBD-1 pictured during flight testing at NAS Anacostia, D.C-3


The first production TBD-1 pictured during flight testing at NAS Anacostia, D.C-2


The first production TBD-1 pictured during flight testing at NAS Anacostia, D.C


TBD-1s at Douglas Aircraft Company's Santa Monica, CA, plant. Torpedo Squadron Two (VT-2),


TBD-1 with emergency flotation gear fully inflated. Bags would keep an aircraft afloat in the event it was forced to ditch at sea


Right side view of second pilot's cockpit on TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C.


Right side view of pilot's cockpit of TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia D.C.


Right side view of gunner's cockpit of TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C-2


Right side view of gunner's cockpit of TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C.


Photograph of TBD-1 torpedo mounting.


Left side view of the pilot's cockpit of a TBD-1.


Left side view of second pilot's cockpit on TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C.


Left side view of pilot's cockpit of TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C.


Left side view of gunner's cockpit in TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C-2


Left side view of gunner's cockpit in TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C.


Close-up photograph of an anti-spin sail fitted to the arresting hook on a TBD-1


Close-up of telescope sight on TBD-1. This photograph was taken at NAS Anacostia, D.C.

[Russ Matthews]

Correct you are TBDude and for concuring with my hypothisis on the Clipper thread, you must be rewarded ...

Many thanks! BTW, I've also heard it said that Mark Allen is handsome and brave ...

[The Inspector]

Correct you are TBDude and for concuring with my hypothisis on the Clipper thread, you must be rewarded ...

Many thanks! BTW, I've also heard it said that Mark Allen is handsome and brave ...

...and is kind to his parents and admired greatly by his cat

[Noha307]

Source NMNA archives


TBD-1 with emergency flotation gear fully inflated. Bags would keep an aircraft afloat in the event it was forced to ditch at sea

Cool! I've never seen these things deployed before. I remember reading that they were removed so that the plane sank quickly and the bombsight couldn't be captured. Question: How are they activated?

I guess this is what they're for:

And from our favorite group's website:

[JOMiller]

Activated by lanyard in cockpit,

[Steve Nelson]

Forgive the ignorance, but what is up with the ribbing on the wings?

It's for her pleasure....

Oh come on...somebody had to say it!



Now for a serious question: in the very first photo, what's that strange fairing just ahead of the squadron insignia?

SN

[dbrown]

Here's a few faves of mine. The Life pics are amazing.

DB

[Chris Brame]

It's for her pleasure....

Oh come on...somebody had to say it!

That's OK - we all can take a little ribbing now and then
I just figured the wings were like that to a) annoy the guys who were masking off the roundels and b) drive future modelers nuts when we're trying to get the $#%&@ decals to lay down...

Seriously, are there any late-war photos of TBDs serving as hacks, on fire dumps, or in scrapyards?

[tom d. friedman]

Forgive the ignorance, but what is up with the ribbing on the wings?

It's for her pleasure....

Oh come on...somebody had to say it!



Now for a serious question: in the very first photo, what's that strange fairing just ahead of the squadron insignia?

SN

[tom d. friedman]

never ever saw a pic of aircraft being stored from the lower hangar ceiling on any carrier!! must have been because the devastator was so light weight.