When Douglas introduced the Devastator into the US Navy's carrier air groups in 1937, they had created the blueprint for future naval aviation. The aircraft was the first monoplane to go to sea. With the exception of the flight control surfaces, the aircraft was all-metal in construction. Most importantly, the wings could be folded to facilitate dense parking on the limited real estate of the flight deck or in the hangar deck.

By the time war erupted a few years later, the TBD-1 was on the other end of the technology spectrum - virtually obsolete. As Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld once said: "You don't go to war with the forces you want, you go with the forces you have." Such was the case with the TBD-1, and its crews fought hard. In the Battle of Coral Sea, TBD-1s helped to sink the carrier Shoho, but in the Battle of Midway, the Devastators experienced devastating losses and were soon replaced with the TBF Avenger.

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VT-8 aboard USS HORNET ENS George Gay.
VT-8 aboard USS HORNET Squadron Commander LCDR John C.Waldron.

Model-details:

Three very detailed cockpits
Seat belts/shoulder harnesses provided as photo-etched parts
Radio equipment nicely done
Detailed bombardier/torpedoman positions
Dual .50 caliber rear gun ring installation
Canopies can be positioned open or closed
One-piece canopy provided for completely closed option
Observation/aiming doors are positionable
Detailed Twin Wasp engine
Choice of open or closed cowl flaps
Wings can be posed folded or extended
Flaps can be posed extended or closed
Landing gear can be posed raised or down
Ventral belly pan options for plain or recessed torpedo cradle
Optional bomb shackles provided for plain belly pan version
Two types of torpedoes provided, one with standard fins, the other with the special box fin
Canopy paint masks are included