12/2/2023 0 Comments Dauntless dive bomber dive angle![]() ![]() The 1,000-lb weight of the weapon, as well as its drag when carried, caused TBDs to fly at a much lower altitude than the accompanying fighters and dive bombers in a typical carrier strike, complicating coordination. The Mark XIII torpedo was bulky for its class and sat in the slipstream at a shallow angle when mounted. ![]() Prime disadvantages with the design were a modest combat radius of slightly more than 200 miles with the heavy Mark XIII aerial torpedo slung underneath, and a cruising speed of 128 knots. Though a capable aircraft in the context of the late 1930s, the great strides made worldwide in military aviation made the TBD highly vulnerable by the time the Second World War began. A lengthy enclosed cockpit section, commonly called a “greenhouse,” and prominent corrugated ribs on the wings and empennage, were distinctive features that set the design apart. Designed as both a torpedo and level bomber, the TBD featured hydraulically-folding wings and the secret Norden bombsight. The Douglas TBD was the Navy’s first all-metal monoplane carrier aircraft, joining the fleet in 1937. Keep reading to learn more about this amazing WWII era aircraft! TBD Devastator Unlike any others of its kind, this torpedo aircraft flown in the Battle of Midway is an exciting addition for us. The arrival of the TBD Devastator replica (unassembled) to the USS Midway Museum, September 2019. This full-sized TBD Devastator replica was originally built for the upcoming motion picture, Midway and will soon be incorporated into the overall presentation of our current Battle of Midway Theater complex which already contains dynamic displays of the F4F Wildcat fighter and SBD Dauntless dive bomber. This September, after months of restoration, the USS Midway Museum welcomed aboard a special replica torpedo aircraft, the TBD Devastator. Today, I am excited to discuss Midway’s newest exhibit a very special replica unlike any other in the world… Hello and welcome back to “Karl’s Korner”, a historical segment written by myself, Karl Zingheim – Ship Historian of the USS Midway Museum!
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