Avengers on a Bombing Run

[NevadaK]

Saw this post from the Atomic Testing Museum today. They have a tendency to post the wrong images with their texts, but thought I would share.

 

[elbmc1969]

When your enemy is flying strategic bombing attacks with carrier planes because, enh, what else to they have to do?, you're in trouble.

 

[Marshall_Stack]

When your enemy is flying strategic bombing attacks with carrier planes because, enh, what else to they have to do?, you're in trouble.

Plus to have enough carriers for this 1,000 avengers....

 

[pararaftanr2]

Two separate events. Strategic bombing raids by "1000 planes" would refer to B-29 raids, not horizontal bombing done by Navy Avengers in squadron strength, as show in the photo above. In fact, there never was a "1000" bomber raid on a single Japanese target. The most was 828 B-29s, escorted by 186 P-51s flown on August 13 / 14 and targeting several cities throughout the course of the day and night.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Plus to have enough carriers for this 1,000 avengers....

I imagine that's sorties?

 

[BiffF15]

I imagine that's sorties?

Admiral Beez,

That would be the same thing on the first wave. Sortie indicates 1 plane flew once. Sorties could be total for that mission, or total for some defined period.

Cheers,
Biff

 

[Dimlee]

This image can be found here:
File:TBMs and SB2Cs dropping bombs.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
It seems as they are dropping through the clouds. Isn't it strange? Unless there is an opening beyond the range of the photo.

 

[Shortround6]

This image can be found here:
File:TBMs and SB2Cs dropping bombs.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
It seems as they are dropping through the clouds. Isn't it strange? Unless there is an opening beyond the range of the photo.

It appears (to may eye anyway) that the Avenger/s near the camera have pod instead of tank under the starboard wing.

Possibility they were blind bombing using radar?

 

[Dimlee]

It looks like a pod, indeed. Thanks for the hint.

 

[pararaftanr2]

Yes, those are radar pods under the starboard wings. It would appear these are TBM-3Es with AN/APS-4 search radar pods carried. These Avengers are also using 100 gallon drop tanks, which are farther inboard (one under each wing) and painted white, indicating they are older stock, factory painted to match the previous three-color camouflage scheme with white undersides. These birds are in overall glossy sea blue however.