[central_va]

What a POS the Devastator was. Criminal to send in that slow unmemorable crate into that battle. I guess it had to be done.

[BilLies]

Perhaps they should have gone on strike like some of the sailors loading ammunition ships at Port Chicago, California did in July 1944./Sarcasm

[pfflier]

It was just being replaced by the TBF/TBM at the time of the battle. As a matter of fact some TBFs assigned to torpedo 8 were launched from the island during the battle. Only one of those survived.

Torpedo 8 had a very bad day but they critically drew the CAP to sea level allowing the SBDs to attack almost unopposed by fighters. The pilots showed incredible courage.

A very good book in the battle is Incredible Victory By Walter Lord.