TBM-3 Avenger of VT-82 flying from the carrier Bennington struggles to remain airborne after receiving heavy damage in a mid-air collision with another Avenger over Chi Chi Jima, 18 Feb 1945.

Caption     TBM-3 Avenger of VT-82 flying from the carrier Bennington struggles to remain airborne after receiving heavy damage in a mid-air collision with another Avenger over Chi Chi Jima, 18 Feb 1945. ww2dbase
Photographer   
Source    ww2dbaseUnited States Navy
Identification Code   NH 89380
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TBF Avenger   Main article  Photos  
Photo Size 1,216 x 970 pixels
Photos on Same Day 18 Feb 1945
Added By David Stubblebine
Licensing  Public Domain. According to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government".

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Colorized By WW2DB     Colorized with Adobe Photoshop



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Visitor Submitted Comments

1. Commenter identity confirmed David Stubblebine says:
29 Nov 2012 11:59:11 AM

This aircraft was piloted by Robert King. His plane was struck by the Avenger of a squadron mate, Robert Cosbie. Cosbie had a wing shot off during their bombing run and his plane spun into King’s plane. Cosbie’s remaining wing struck King’s plane behind the turret and Cosbie’s propeller chewed four feet off King’s left wing. Cosbie’s plane went into a violent spin, crashed into the sea, and all 3 crewmembers were killed. King’s plane also went into a spin and he ordered his two aircrewmen to bail out. After they did, the plane righted itself and King somehow regained control. King fought the controls all they way back to the fleet where he made a successful water landing and was rescued. Other aircrews saw the parachutes of Kings two crewmen and later saw them knee-deep in water walking ashore on Chi Chi Jima. These two crewmen were captured by the Japanese and later beheaded so their livers could be eaten [see FLYBOYS by James Bradley].

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