80 years ago today: Formation of at least 17 early Grumman TBF-1 Avenger aircraft in flight over Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides, and Aoba Island, Tuesday, 5 October 1943. Note that one plane, White 124, still wears the old “wingless” national insignia roundel, which was discontinued in June 1943.
National Archives photo 80-G-54790
As noted in the official caption about the above torpedo bombers, “They had a cover of 24 F4Us during this training maneuver, and were “attacked” by P-40s of the New Zealand air force. Maneuvers ended with an “attack” on the “enemy” fighter strip.”
Sorry guys, no squadron markings, tail codes, or BuNos visible to dig deeper.
However, there was a series of combined fleet exercises for Task Force 38 off Espiritu Santo in early October with Carrier Air Group 12 aboard the recently-repaired USS Saratoga (CV-3) along with Carrier Air Group 23 aboard the newly-commissioned light carrier USS Princeton (CVL-23) in preparation for Operation Shoestring 2. Therefore, these Avengers could be from VC-23 or Torpedo (VT) 12, sans tail codes yet.