Douglas TBD Devastator
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The Douglas TBD Devastator was an American torpedo bomber of the United States Navy. Ordered in 1934, it first flew in 1935 and entered service in 1937. At that point, it was the most advanced aircraf
US Navy TBD-1 Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6), from USS Enterprise (CV-6), circa 1938
The XTBD-1 with the original flat canopy in 1935
The first production TBD-1 in 1937
A single TBD-1A was tried as a floatplane
Battle of Midway
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The Battle of Midway was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II that took place on 4–7 June 1942, six months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor and one month after the Battle of
Douglas TBD Devastator
…Devastator performed well early in the war, most notably in the Battle of the Coral Sea, but earned infamy for a catastrophic performance during the Battle of Midway in which 41 Devastators recorded zero torpedo hits with only six surviving to return to their carriers. Although much of the Devastator's dismal…
USS Yorktown at the moment of impact by a Japanese torpedo, 4 June 1942
Midway Atoll, several months before the battle. Eastern Island (with the airfield) is in the foreground, and the larger Sand Island is in the background to the west.
USS Yorktown at Pearl Harbor days before the battle.
Akagi (April 1942)