Warplanes of the USA: Douglas BTD Destroyer

Douglas BTD Destroyer

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer (BuNo 04963) in flight near the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland, on 25 July 1944.

The Douglas BTD Destroyer is an American dive/torpedo bomber developed for the United States Navy during the Second World War. A small number had been delivered before the end of the war, but none saw combat.

On 20 June 1941, the United States Navy placed an order with the Douglas Aircraft Company for two prototypes of a new two-seat dive bomber to replace both the Douglas SBD Dauntless and the new Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, designated XSB2D-1. The resulting aircraft, designed by a team led by Ed Heinemann, was a large single-engined mid-winged monoplane. It had a laminar flow gull-wing, and unusually for a carrier-based aircraft of the time, a tricycle undercarriage. It was fitted with a bomb bay and underwing racks for up to 4,200 lb (1,900 kg) of bombs or one torpedo (typically the Mark 13), while defensive armament consisted of two wing-mounted 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon and two remote-controlled turrets, each with two .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns.

The prototype first flew on 8 April 1943, demonstrating good performance, being faster than the Dauntless and capable of carrying more bombload, but it was heavier and more complex The U.S. Navy had made a request for a new torpedo bomber developed from the XSB2D-1. Douglas reworked the XSB2D-1 by removing the turrets and second crewman, while adding more fuel and armor, while wing racks could carry not just one but two torpedoes, producing the BTD-1 Destroyer. The orders for the SB2D-1 were converted to the BTD-1, with the first BTD-1 flying on 5 March 1944.

The BTD-1 was heavier than the XS2BD-1 and had poorer performance. Ed Heinemann asked for cancellation of the BTD-1. The first production BTD-1s were completed in June 1944. By the time Japan surrendered in August 1945, only 28 aircraft had been delivered, and production was cancelled due to performance, along with other aircraft types that had been designed from the start as single-seaters, such as the Martin AM Mauler.[6] None saw combat. In any event, Heinemann and his team were already working on developing the single-seat BT2D that became the Douglas A-1 Skyraider. One of the two XSB2Ds was destroyed in a crash on 10 January 1946. (Wikipedia)

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer (BuNo.3551) in flight, in 1943. Only two XSB2Ds were built plus 28 single seat versions, redesignated BTD-1.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer (BuNo.3551) in flight in 1943. Only two XSB2Ds were built plus 28 single seat versions, redesignated BTD-1.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer landing in 1943.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer preparing to land, 1943.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas XSB2D-1 Destroyer on the flight line, in 1943.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, c1945.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

At NAS Alameda in November 1947. Used by NACA for ice research tests.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer on the flight line at Naval Air Station Alameda, California, circa 1947. This particular aircraft (BuNo 09086) was used in ice research tests by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) from 11 March 1946 to 4 September 1947.

(USN Photo)

A Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at the Naval Air Rework Facility, Naval Air Station Norfolk, Virginia (USA). Note that this is not a 1940s picture (see the C-12 and A-4 in the background). This aircraft is the BTD-1, BuNo 4959, which is preserved at the "Wings of Eagles Discovery Center", Elmira-Corning Regional Airport, Elmira, New York (USA). This aircraft had long been in the "Florence Air & Missile Museum" collection until the museum's closing in 1997.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer (BuNo 04963) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland, on 26 June 1944.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at the NACA Langley Research Center on 31 August 1945.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer (BuNo 04963) at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), on 26 June 1944.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer, circa 1945-46.

(USN Photo)

U.S. Navy Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer, circa 1945-46.

(USN Photo)

The Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer BuNo. 04968 was used by the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA), Ames Research Center, Moffet Field, California (USA), from 28 July 1944 to 30 June 1947 to gain data on flying qualities, stability and control, and performance.

(USN Photo)

Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer in 1945-1946.

(Thompson200 Photo)

Douglas BTD Destroyer (BuNo. 4959), Richard B. Russell Airport, 2017.