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Conceptually similar
TBD-1 Devastator Assembly
XTBD-1 Devastator on Ground
XTBD-1 Devastator on Ground
XTBD-1 Devastator Propeller
XTBD-1 Devastator Prototype
XTBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
XTBD-1 Devastator Prototype on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
DC-1 Under Construction
TBD-1 Devastator on the Ground
TBD-1 Devastator with Wings Folded
TBD-1 Devastator on Factory Floor
TBD-1 Devastator in Flight
XB-19 Behemoth Assembly
XB-19 Behemoth in Factory
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Flight Apron
Fleet of A-20s (DB-7/A-20 Boston/Havoc) and TBD Devastaor on Tarmac
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XTBD-1 Devastator Wood Mock Up
TBD Devastator (1935-1939): When the Navy placed a contract with Douglas Aircraft Company for the development of the TBD torpedo bomber in 1934, a new era in naval aviation began. Biplanes on carrier decks would soon be consigned to history. The TBD Devastator was the Navy's first all-metal, monoplane torpedo bomber. It was also the Navy's first carrier-based plane to come with an enclosed cockpit, and the first to use main landing gear wheel brakes. While most carrier-based aircraft of the day had manually folded wings for storage aboard ship, the TBD featured hydraulic folding wings. The plane had a crew of three (pilot, bombardier and gunner), and carried a half-ton torpedo. It entered service with the fleet in 1937. In December 1941, TDB Devastators formed the backbone of the Navy's carrier torpedo force in the Pacific. During raids against Japanese bases in the Central Pacific in early 1942, TBDs sank two transports and destroyed or damaged 10 other vessels. In May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea, TBDs helped sink one enemy carrier and heavily damage another. These early actions, however, revealed the Devastator's shortcomings in speed and range and exposed problems with its main offensive weapon. Its torpedoes often failed to explode. The TBD next saw action in the Battle of Midway in June. This was a complete victory for the U.S. Navy, but of the 41 Devastators that took part in the battle, only six made it back to their carriers. The TBD's slow speed, light defensive armament and lack of maneuverability made it easy prey for the famous Japanese Zero fighter. An aircraft of advanced design in 1937, the Devastator was obsolete by 1942. Its first six months of combat would be its last. The TBD was withdrawn from front-line service in the summer of 1942, but continued in service as an advanced trainer until the end of the war. A total of 130 TBDs were built.
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Unique identifier
BI260
Boeing ID
5973
Type
Image
Size
6000px × 4607px 26MB
License type
RM
Keywords
1930s
airplanes
attack
buildings
day
engines
factories
glare
ground shots
historic production status
interiors
manufacturing
military
monoplanes
nobody
nose sections
perspective lines
photos
propeller planes
propellers
propulsion systems
prototypes
right front views
scanned from film negative
stairs, lifts and ladders
structural systems
sunshine
three-quarter length views
unpainted
vintage / retro
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