confusion over TBF/TBM internal arrangement

[alumshubby]

I'm unclear as to where at least one of the crew members sat in the
Avenger, and whether at least one of them moved around during flight.

The pilot, I'm sure, sat up front and stayed where he was.

Elsewhere in the cockpit, there's a gun turret, and there's apparently
another seat between it and the pilot's seat.

But there's also the "downstairs" space aft of the torpedo/bomb bay,
which has a rear-facing machine gun of its own.

Did the radioman sit down there sometimes and between the pilot and
turret gunner at other times? Did he have room to climb up between the
turret gunner's feet and the rear of the bomb bay?

[Larry Telford]

The space behind the pilot did not normally have a seat installed in the
normal WWII TBM/TBF. There was a fold down seat in the lower fuselage that
the third crewmember used. In the early days, when the 30 caliber machine
gun was installed in the lower fuselage, the gunner had to stand and look
through three small windows. The installation was not very effective and
later on, the gun and armor plate was removed to save weight, The TBM-3E's
came from the factory without the guns and windows.

--
Larry Telford
_~O __O
'-_\<,_-\<,'
...(*)/----/-(*)




"alumshubby" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm unclear as to where at least one of the crew members sat in the
> Avenger, and whether at least one of them moved around during flight.
>
> The pilot, I'm sure, sat up front and stayed where he was.
>
> Elsewhere in the cockpit, there's a gun turret, and there's apparently
> another seat between it and the pilot's seat.
>
> But there's also the "downstairs" space aft of the torpedo/bomb bay,
> which has a rear-facing machine gun of its own.
>
> Did the radioman sit down there sometimes and between the pilot and
> turret gunner at other times? Did he have room to climb up between the
> turret gunner's feet and the rear of the bomb bay?
>

[Keith W]

"alumshubby" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm unclear as to where at least one of the crew members sat in the
> Avenger, and whether at least one of them moved around during flight.
>
> The pilot, I'm sure, sat up front and stayed where he was.
>
> Elsewhere in the cockpit, there's a gun turret, and there's apparently
> another seat between it and the pilot's seat.
>
> But there's also the "downstairs" space aft of the torpedo/bomb bay,
> which has a rear-facing machine gun of its own.
>
> Did the radioman sit down there sometimes and between the pilot and
> turret gunner at other times?

Thats exactly right. He had dual duties, as radio/radar operator
and gunner during action

> Did he have room to climb up between the
> turret gunner's feet and the rear of the bomb bay?
>

He climbed down into a tunnel to access the rear
facing gun

Keith

[Peter Stickney]

alumshubby wrote:

> I'm unclear as to where at least one of the crew members sat in the
> Avenger, and whether at least one of them moved around during
> flight.
>
> The pilot, I'm sure, sat up front and stayed where he was.
>
> Elsewhere in the cockpit, there's a gun turret, and there's
> apparently another seat between it and the pilot's seat.
>
> But there's also the "downstairs" space aft of the torpedo/bomb bay,
> which has a rear-facing machine gun of its own.
>
> Did the radioman sit down there sometimes and between the pilot and
> turret gunner at other times? Did he have room to climb up between
> the turret gunner's feet and the rear of the bomb bay?

Just so. The third crew member also acted as the Bombardier when
required, using a Norden bomb sight from the lower position.
Usually, though, TBF/TBMs didn't do level bombing, but steep gliding
attacks, aimed by the pilot.

--
Pete Stickney
Java Man knew nothing about coffee.

[Don McIntyre]

IIRC, the RN, in one version or another of the Tarpon/Avenger used
section behind the pilot as a Navigator's station.

Don McIntyre
Clarksville, TN