Identification - WWII USN Torpedo Bomber?

[teddy1066]

A friend's grandfather is one of the pilots in this photo. He was a US naval aviator in WWII and was shot down and a Japanese POW in the Phillipines until liberation.

My best guess is that these are US Navy torpedo bombers, possibly Douglas Devastators? Would love to know for certain what planes these are.

Thanks and a happy Fourth to you all!

Ted

 

[fubar57]

Navy Harvards or whatever the navy called them. SNJ I think
Edit: should have mentioned that is was an advanced trainer

 

[GrauGeist]

Yep, Geo nailed it: North American SNJs of the USN

 

[fubar57]

Someone else should be able to nail down the exact model. It seems every time they added a nut or bolt the model number changed

 

[GrauGeist]

The photos aren't clear enough (at least on this POS phone) to see the BuNos on the tails to get a better clue as to the time and assignment of that flight.

 

[fubar57]

I tried on my laptop using IrfanView to zoom in and it wasn't any better

 

[macharvard]

A friend's grandfather is one of the pilots in this photo. He was a US naval aviator in WWII and was shot down and a Japanese POW in the Phillipines until liberation.

My best guess is that these are US Navy torpedo bombers, possibly Douglas Devastators? Would love to know for certain what planes these are.

Thanks and a happy Fourth to you all!

Ted

These are North American SNJ-3s. SNJ-4s would look similar, but the rear monocoque of the fuselage would be plywood and not shiny.

 

[teddy1066]

Thanks a lot to all of you for your expertise identifying this aircraft. My friend really appreciated it!

 

[monstrok]

A friend's grandfather is one of the pilots in this photo. He was a US naval aviator in WWII and was shot down and a Japanese POW in the Phillipines until liberation.

My best guess is that these are US Navy torpedo bombers, possibly Douglas Devastators? Would love to know for certain what planes these are.

Thanks and a happy Fourth to you all!

Ted

Macharvard is correct, these are US Navy North American SNJ-3 advanced trainers. Though not a catchy name, SNJ stands for Scout-Trainer (SN) North American (J).

 

[strider190]

Come on guys, the're AT 6 Texans, the Navy designation was SJN Harvard . Thats an advanced trainer for the unwashed.

 

[GrauGeist]

The NJ/SNJ was often referred to as a "Texan" by the USN, but never a "Harvard".

The NA-16-1 was trailled and purchased by the RAF, who gave it the "Harvard" designation.

 

[MACHIA]

It's an AT-6. Naval designation SNJ. It was a trainer and was not called a Harvard by the Americans, but by the British.