Best of the last single seat, single engine carrier torpedo bombers?

• Nov 12, 2019

• #1

A

Admiral Beez

Major

9,322

10,618

Oct 21, 2019

Toronto, Canada

I'm a fan of single piston-engined, single-seat carrier-based torpedo bombers, starting with the Blackburn Dart. The rear seat guy rarely shoots down any intercepting fighters, and while good for navigation and reconnaissance, is otherwise unnecessary.

Which was the best of the last, Curtiss XBTC, Mauler, Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK, Firebrand....or another? Did the A-1 Skyraider, Wyvern or Firecrest ever launch an anti ship torpedo?

 

Last edited: Nov 12, 2019

• Nov 13, 2019

• Thread starter
• #2

A

Admiral Beez

Major

9,322

10,618

Oct 21, 2019

Toronto, Canada

Okay, we have a winner. A-1 Skyraider torpedoing a dam In the Korean War. This has to be one of the few times an air dropped torpedo has been used as such.

Skyraiders Torpedo the Hwachon Dam | Defense Media Network

 

• Nov 14, 2019

• #3

B

Barrett

Senior Airman

712

1,206

Feb 9, 2007

Western United States

Sidebar: over a year ago a restored TBM-3 Avenger was abandoned in flight over Arizona and remains missing. It's likely on an Indian reservation but nobody's found anything yet. Last I heard the finder's fee had been bumped up.