1/48 Great Wall Hobby TBD Devastator

Gallery Article by Fabrizio Frassica on Aug 14 2013

 

 

Douglas TBD Devastator 1/48 - Midway June 1942

Since I was a child, I was always fascinated by TBD devastator...really a bird of prey!

This aircraft was the protagonist of the first American responses to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 1941.  Since Februaury 1942 TBD operated against Japanese forces on Kwajalein, New Guinea, Wake, Marcus island, Lae and Salamaua. But it is with the Battle of Coral Sea (May 1942) that the Devastator reaches its maximum popularity. In fact, the TBD launched by USS Yorktown, in cooperation with the SBD Dauntless dive bombers launched by USS Lexington, sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Shoho and damaged the similar Shokaku. 

 

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However, the Devastator was already a plane outdated and obsolete and in the subsequent Battle of Midway (June 1942) almost the entire fleet of TBD was completely destroyed in the attack against the Japanese fleet and none of their torpedoes scored a hit.

My model is a VT8 aircraft that participated in the first attack. The plane, along with all the other 15 of the VT 8, was shot down. Only Ens. Gay survived after this terrible attack.

Shortly after the Midway disaster, the devastator entire fleet was retired from front line.

Douglas TBD Devastator OOB from Great Wall Hobby kit in 1/48 scale.

Markings are for Ens. Gay, VT8 - USS Hornet, Midway June 1942

Colours by Life Colours. Filters by True Earth.

Enjoy the photos.

Fabrizio Frassica

      

Photos and text © by Fabrizio Frassica