TBF/TBM Question

[John Ceglarek]

Who manned the various postitions inside the aircraft? Was the radio operator "stuck" in the center cockpit, and the gunner had to man both the turret and the ventral gun? Or did the radio operator have access to the gun positions as well?

Thanks,

John

[Dan K]

Radio guy handled the ventral position.

[duncan]

The original TBF's had four positions, but the one behind the pilot was done away with right after the first limited production TBF-1 models. There are no rudder pedals, brakes nor engine controls there, although an operational control stick can be mounted.

See
http://rockymountainwingcaf.org/TBM_ovw.asp for more info and this cutaway view.

Last edited by duncan on Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:13 pm, edited 3 times in total.

[Larry Kraus]

You could move from the seat behind the pilot via a passageway that left a space below one side of the turret.You could enter or exit the turret in flight by way of a piece of hinged armor plate in the bottom.Theoretically,the radioman could enter the turret if it was unoccupied,or at least come to the aid of a wounded gunner.The pilot's cockpit was not accessable from the other positions because of the roll-over structure and armor.

[Ztex]

So did the TBM's range over the ocean solo or in groups?
I know they were on ASW patrols in the Atlantic.
I always think of them in mass attacks on the Japanese.

How did they operate?

Z

[Jack Cook]

Think about the operated at night in bad weather in the Altantic
off of escort carriers.
That sure separated the men from the boys

Also for level bombing the radio operator was also the bombardier.
At the rear of the bombbay is a plexi view port for the norden in the rear compartment.
Riding back there is like being in the belly of the beast except noisier