From 1937 through 1941 the TBD served as a central part of American carrier air groups and helped crews turn doctrine into operational practice. After the Pacific War began, Devastators attacked targets across the Marshall, Gilbert, Wake, and Marcus islands. Yorktown and Lexington aircraft also struck Japanese shipping near New Guinea in March 1942. At the Coral Sea their torpedo attack contributed materially to sinking the light carrier Shoho, although they failed to hit Shokaku the next day. These operations show a useful aircraft and an increasingly troublesome weapon before Midway compressed the type's whole reputation into one disaster.
Chapter · 42:47-44:22
The TBD had a useful record before Midway
Prewar exercises and early Pacific raids culminated in Devastators helping sink Shoho at the Coral Sea.