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Photo # 80-CF-1071-1:  Douglas TBD-1 flies over Wake Island, February 1942

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY AIRCRAFT -- 1922-1962 DESIGNATION SYSTEM --

Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" Torpedo Planes --
Combat Views


This page features virtually all our views of Douglas TBD-1 torpedo planes during combat.

For additional views of TBD-1 aircraft, see:

  • Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" Torpedo Planes .


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

    Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

    Photo #: 80-CF-1071-1

    Wake Island Raid, 24 February 1942


    A Douglas TBD-1 torpedo plane from USS Enterprise (CV-6) flies over Wake during the raid. Note fires burning in the lower center.
    View looks about WNW, with Wilkes Island in the center and the western end of Wake Island in bottom center. Peale Island is at right.

    Photograph from Department of the Navy collections in the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 74KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-17047

    Battle of Coral Sea, May 1942


    Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho under attack by U.S. Navy carrier aircraft in the late morning of 7 May 1942.
    A TBD "Devastator" is visible in the lower right center, and another plane can be seen in the top center.
    Photographed from a USS Yorktown (CV-5) torpedo plane.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 68KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-17024

    Battle of Coral Sea, May 1942


    Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho under attack by U.S. Navy carrier aircraft in the late morning of 7 May 1942. Photographed from a USS Lexington (CV-2) plane.
    A TBD-1 torpedo plane is visible at right, beyond the large splash.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 445 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-16806

    Battle of the Coral Sea, May 1942


    Planes returning on board USS Lexington (CV-2) at about 1400 hrs. on 8 May 1942, during the Battle of the Coral Sea.
    View looks aft along the port side of the flight deck from the front of the bomb-damaged port forward 5-inch gun gallery. Number two 5"/25 gun is in the foreground, trained out and still in operation. The damaged number four and number six 5"/25 guns are immediately beyond.
    A TBD-1 torpedo plane is on the flight deck, taxiing forward after landing, and a F4F-3 fighter is approaching to land.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 90KB; 740 x 615 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-41686

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) TBD-1 aircraft are prepared for launching on USS Enterprise (CV-6) at about 0730-0740 hrs, 4 June 1942. Eleven of the fourteen TBDs launched from Enterprise are visible. Three more TBDs and ten F4F fighters must still be pushed into position before launching can begin.
    The TBD in the left front is Number Two (Bureau # 1512), flown by Ensign Severin L. Rombach and Aviation Radioman 2nd Class W.F. Glenn. Along with eight other VT-6 aircraft, this plane and its crew were lost attacking Japanese aircraft carriers somewhat more than two hours later.
    USS Pensacola (CA-24) is in the right distance and a destroyer is in plane guard position at left.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the U.S. National Archives.

    Online Image: 73KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-21668

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    A Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo plane, carrying a Mk. XIII torpedo, en route to attack the Japanese carrier force during the morning of 4 June 1942.
    This plane is probably from Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3), launched from USS Yorktown at about 0840 hrs.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 50KB; 740 x 605 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: 80-G-312023

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Scene in the hangar of USS Yorktown (CV-5), 4 June 1942, shortly after fires there from Japanese bomb hits had been extinguished. This rather fuzzy time exposure looks directly aft, with the sloping inner uptake sides at left. One bomb, which detonated on the flight deck just aft of the midships aircraft elevator, set fires in the area seen in the left distance.
    Note fire hoses on deck, and spare TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo plane (with obsolete markings) hung under the hangar overhead.

    Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

    Online Image: 70KB; 655 x 675 pixels

    Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system.

     
    Photo #: NH 95578

    Battle of Midway, June 1942


    Scene in the hangar of USS Yorktown (CV-5) during salvage operations on 6 June 1942. A Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" torpedo plane is being prepared for jettisoning, as part of efforts to lighten the listing ship.
    Photographed by Photographer 2nd Class William G. Roy. This view looks to port, out the forward hangar bay opening, with the sea visible beyond.

    U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command Photograph.

    Online Image: 46KB; 740 x 605 pixels

     


    For additional views of TBD-1 aircraft, see:

  • Douglas TBD-1 "Devastator" Torpedo Planes .


    NOTES:

  • To the best of our knowledge, the pictures referenced here are all in the Public Domain, and can therefore be freely downloaded and used for any purpose.

  • Some images linked from this page may bear obsolete credit lines citing the organization name: "Naval Historical Center". Effective 1 December 2008 the name should be cited as: "Naval History and Heritage Command".


    If you want higher resolution reproductions than the digital images presented here, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."


    Return to Naval History and Heritage Command home page.

    Page made 14 February 2001
    Coding updated 7 May 2009