Douglas TBD Devastator (Naval Fighters) Paperback – September 1, 2007

Unbelievably thorough! More detail than I imagined ever existed. Unit information was superb with details I did not find anywhere else. High quality glossy paper and excellent color illustrations.

good reference for model builders.

This book took the Naval Fighters series into new territory. Hitherto, the Naval Fighters series covered late war and postwar aircraft. Here we have a prewar aircraft, the Douglas TBD.This is in most respects a typical Naval Fighters book. It is an 8-1/2"x11", 96 page, stapled card cover. Color is restricted to the front and rear covers.The text is fairly minimal, but in the case of an aircraft with such a brief service history entirely adequate. First is a development history which points out the little mentioned fact that the TBD was the Navy's first operational carrier monoplane. This is followed by an aircraft and engine description. The next section describes the unit histories including the combat operations of the type. Although the events at Coral Sea and Midway are the best known, the TBD saw a fair amount of combat as a level bomber (hence the "B" in the designation) and these operations are covered as well. It's post combat training role is also covered. Finally, the various plastic scale model kits are reviewed.The black and white photos are the outstanding feature of the book, however. Although aircraft portrait shots predominate, there are plenty of up close and detailed shots also. Most are superbly reproduced. Backing up the photos are plenty of contemporary drawings detailing features and markings. There is also a superb recent centerspread cutaway drawing by Mike Badrocke.As later books covering the F9F and JF/J2F attest publisher Steve Ginter is making a push into previously little covered prewar aircraft. I personally hope the Vought SB2U is on his short list of aircraft to cover in the future. I highly recommend this book and hope future volumes are of equally high standard.

ＴＢＤ−１の模型制作には貴重な第１級資料としてお勧めです。特に機首下面の爆撃照準区画の詳細な写真は圧巻！

Like the devastator, after building the monogram 1/48 scale kit. This is a good paperback on high gloss paper - the feel of a limited run.Although most model makers will fit the torpedo, most of the photos show the aircraft without one- I suppose in peace time other than the odd training mission there was no need. Slight bug bear is the picture on the front has been printed better elsewhere.