On the subject of Aeronca GT-1s, CriticalPast has a film titled
Preset Glide Torpedo Model GT-1 that shows the weapon being tested. There's also a
similar film for the bomb version.
Also, someone over on the War Relics Forum
posted a bunch of pictures of GT-1s being worked on in the Pacific:
(Source:
War Relics Forum)
(Source:
War Relics Forum)
Finally, the grandson of one of the members of the
47th Bomb Group went to the National Archives and scanned the mission reports for the 41st Bomb Group. This of course includes the report for the one pictured above, mission number 41-24:
(Source:
Google Drive)
(Source:
Google Drive)
(Source:
Google Drive)
Other missions where the GT-1 was used include 41-27, on 29 July 1945; 41-30 on 30 July 1945; 41-33 on 31 July 1945; and 41-38 on 1 August 1945. 41-30 was similarly a bust, with the B-25s returning when contact was not made with the fighter escort. Although torpedoes were dropped on 41-38, the fact that the B-25s immediately broke off after dropping their torpedoes at 12 miles out meant that there was no way to confirm whether anything was struck. On 41-27, only a single hit was scored, but the torpedo did not appear to explode. The biggest success was apparently 41-33, when one cargo ship and possibly two aircraft carriers were hit. Interestingly, one of the torpedoes is reported as being shot down by anti-aircraft fire:
(Source:
Google Drive)
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