An SBD "Dauntless" scout-bomber and five TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo planes prepare to take-off from the USS Enterprise (CV-6) during operations in the south Pacific area, 4 May 1942. Note launching officer making arm signals in the lower left-center. Take-offs averaged one every thirty seconds.
(Source: U.S. Navy)
USS Enterprise (CV-6): TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo planes and F4F-3 "Wildcat" fighters parked on the flight deck, April 1942. Note variations in aircraft fuselage markings and national insignia sizes.
(Source: U.S. Navy)
Douglas TBD-1 Torpedo Planes, of Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5), parked on the after flight deck of USS Yorktown (CV-5) at Naval Air Station, North Island, San Diego, California, in June 1940. Three of these aircraft are painted in an experimental color scheme used during Fleet Problem XXI.
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Douglas TBD-1 torpedo Plane (Bureau # 0320), of Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3).
At Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 22 August 1940.
It is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 7. This aircraft was lost at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, while serving with Torpedo Squadron Two on USS Lexington (CV-2).
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Another view of TBD-1 Devastator BuNo. 0320 at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 22 August 1940.
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Another view of TBD-1 Devastator BuNo. 0320 at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 22 August 1940.
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Douglas TBD-1 torpedo Plane (Bureau # 0339), of Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3). At Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 22 August 1940. It is painted in McClelland Barclay experimental camouflage design number 8. Note .30 caliber machinegun in the plane's after cockpit. Original side markings, "3-T-?" can be faintly seen on the after fuselage through the badly weathered paint job. This aircraft was lost at the Battle of the Coral Sea in May 1942, while serving with Torpedo Squadron Two on USS Lexington (CV-2).
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Another view of TBD-1 Devastator BuNo. 0339 at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 22 August 1940.
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Another view of TBD-1 Devastator BuNo. 0339 at Naval Air Station, North Island, California, 22 August 1940.
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Douglas TBD-1 Devastator drops a Mark XIII torpedo during exercises in the Pacific, 20 October 1941. This plane is aircraft number 6-T-4 of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), based on USS Enterprise (CV-6).
(Source: U.S. Naval Historical Center)
The Torpedo Squadron Six commanding officer's TBD-1 Devastator, from USS Enterprise (CV-6), in flight with a formation of nine other TBD-1s in the background. Photograph was received in 1938.
This aircraft, Bureau # 0322, was lost in an accident at sea on about 10 March 1939.
(Source: U.S. Navy)
Douglas TBD-1 torpedo planes, of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), from USS Enterprise (CV-6)
In flight, circa 1939. Plane closest to the camera is Bureau # 0318.
Note how stripes painted on wings assist pilots in maintaining three-plane "V" formation.
(Source: Collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired)/U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Douglas TBD-1 torpedo planes, of Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), from USS Enterprise (CV-6) Fly in formation, circa 1939. Plane closest to the camera is Bureau # 1511, which was lost while assigned to Torpedo Squadron Three, probably while operating from USS Yorktown (CV-5) during the Battle of Midway.
(Source: Collection of Vice Admiral George C. Dyer, USN (Retired)/U.S. Naval Historical Center)
Douglas TBD-1A experimental floatplane (Bureau # 0268) In low-level flight during torpedo drop tests at the Newport Torpedo Station, Rhode Island, 10 October 1941.
(Source: U.S. Navy)