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TBD Devastator
TBD Devastator 
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Conceptually similar
XTBD-1 Devastator Wood Mock Up
XTBD-1 Devastator Wood Mock Up 
XB-19 Behemoth Assembly
XB-19 Behemoth Assembly 
TBD-1 Devastator on Factory Floor
TBD-1 Devastator on Factory Floor 
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac 
TBD-1 Devastator in Flight
TBD-1 Devastator in Flight 
DC-6 Manufacturing
DC-6 Manufacturing 
Number 301 DC-2 on Factory Floor
Number 301 DC-2 on Factory Floor 
TBD-1 Devastator on the Ground
TBD-1 Devastator on the Ground 
TBD-1 Devastator with Wings Folded
TBD-1 Devastator with Wings Folded 
XB-19 Behemoth in Factory
XB-19 Behemoth in Factory 
Dolphin Assembly
Dolphin Assembly 
DC-1 Under Construction
DC-1 Under Construction 
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac 
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac 
DC-7 Assembly
DC-7 Assembly 
DC-3 Wing Assembly, 1940
DC-3 Wing Assembly, 1940 
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac
TBD-1 Devastator on Tarmac 
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Douglas A-20G Assembly, Santa Monica 
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XTBD-1 Devastator on Ground 
Fleet of A-20s (DB-7/A-20 Boston/Havoc) and TBD Devastaor on Tarmac
Fleet of A-20s (DB-7/A-20 Boston/Havoc) and TBD Devastaor on Tarmac 
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TBD-1 Devastator Assembly

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 BI266 
Boeing ID sm12387 
Type Image 
Size 5998px × 4738px   27MB 
License type RM 
Keywords
1930s
abundance
adults
airplanes
attack
buildings
day
factories
factory workers
glare
ground shots
historic production status
interiors
left front views
male
manufacturing
military
monoplanes
occupations and work
perspective lines
photos
propeller planes
repetition
several/groups
stairs, lifts and ladders
sunshine
viewed from above
vintage / retro
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