Worst American Plane Of WW2

When the Douglas TBD Devastator entered service in 1937, it was a revolutionary addition to the U.S. Navy’s arsenal. However, by the time World War II began, the once-groundbreaking torpedo bomber was painfully outdated. So, was the TBD really the worst American plane of WWII?

Rise and Fall

The TBD was designed with modern features for its time, including an enclosed cockpit, folding wings, and retractable landing gear. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 twin-wasp radial engine, it could reach a top speed of 206 mph with a range of 435 miles. Armed with a forward-firing .30 caliber machine gun and a rear defensive gun, it was a formidable aircraft—on paper.

However, by the time the Pacific War erupted, the A6M Zero had become the dominant Japanese fighter, soaring past the TBD at 330 mph. The Devastator also lacked armor protection and self-sealing fuel tanks, making it dangerously vulnerable to enemy fire.

But with the Avenger still in development, the aging TBD remained the Navy’s frontline torpedo bomber.

Biggest Flaw

The TBD’s biggest flaw wasn’t just its lack of speed—it was the unreliable Mk. 13 torpedo. The weapon required launches from a maximum altitude of 120 feet and at speeds no greater than 150 mph, leaving pilots extremely vulnerable.

Midway: A One-Way Mission

On June 4, 1942, 15 TBD Devastators from Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) launched against the Japanese fleet. Facing relentless Zero fighters and anti-aircraft fire, the Devastators were completely annihilated.

• 37 TBDs lost
• 32 pilots and 35 crewmen killed
• Not a single torpedo hit its target

However, their sacrifice wasn’t in vain. The low-flying Devastators distracted Japanese defenses, allowing Dauntless dive bombers to arrive unnoticed and cripple the carriers Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu, turning the tide of the battle.

But the losses at Midway sealed the fate of the TBD.

Final Verdict

Was the TBD the worst American plane of WWII? It certainly ranks among them. While revolutionary in 1937, by 1942 it was too slow, too vulnerable, and too reliant on a flawed weapon system. Its heroic sacrifice at Midway helped change the course of the war, but in the end, the Devastator was a relic of the past in a rapidly evolving battlefield.