Avengers on a Bombing Run

• Aug 13, 2020

• #1

N

NevadaK

Senior Airman

450

734

Oct 10, 2019

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.

 

• Aug 16, 2020

• #2

E

elbmc1969

Senior Airman

526

365

Feb 16, 2019

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

 

• Aug 16, 2020

• #3

Marshall_Stack

Senior Airman

382

9

Sep 29, 2005

Missouri

elbmc1969 said:

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

Click to expand...

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

 

• Aug 20, 2020

• #4

pararaftanr2

Airman

82

134

Nov 20, 2013

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.

 

• Aug 20, 2020

• #5

A

Admiral Beez

Major

9,382

10,725

Oct 21, 2019

Toronto, Canada

Marshall_Stack said:

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

Click to expand...

I imagine that's sorties?

 

• Aug 22, 2020

• #6

BiffF15

Tech Sergeant

1,997

3,541

Aug 15, 2010

Florida

Admiral Beez said:

I imagine that's sorties?

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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

 

• Aug 27, 2020

• #7

Dimlee

Tech Sergeant

1,827

4,928

Feb 18, 2018

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.

 

• Aug 27, 2020

• #8

S

Shortround6

Major General

23,218

16,421

Jun 29, 2009

Central Florida Highlands

Dimlee said:

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.

Click to expand...

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?

 

• Aug 29, 2020

• #9

Dimlee

Tech Sergeant

1,827

4,928

Feb 18, 2018

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

 

• Sep 10, 2020

• #10

pararaftanr2

Airman

82

134

Nov 20, 2013

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.