Best all-round carrier based bomber

Most sources, including John Lundstrom's "The First Team and the Guadalcanal Campaign" agree that it was an Enterprise flight of 8 SBDs led by Lt. Carl H. Horenburger that Sakai attacked over Tulagi.

 

Sort-of. Saburo thought they were Wildcats, approached from behind and above and then the rear gunner got him.

If looks could kill, she be second to none.

 

But it WAS used as a night-fighter occasionally. I thought the OP was clear, best all round carrier based BOMBER.

 

I can see it. He had NEVER encountered USN aircraft before. From behind at a distance, the F4F and the TBF share a very similar look. Mid-Wing, round fuselage. The SBD had a low wing, narrower fuselage. I don't know what all these aircraft looked like in Japanese recognition books, but it would be far easier to mistake a TBF for an F4F, than an SBD.

 

OK. You have convinced me.
BTW, I've found a nice photo of TBF and F6F (which in its turns is quite similar in look with F4F) together - and, really, they have much in common.
http://crimso.msk.ru/Images6/MM/MM-101/0200-02-1-3.jpg
I don't know what all these aircraft looked like in Japanese recognition books
IIRC, the Japanese captured several F4Fs on Wake, so they could make photos of them and include these photos to their recognition books by summer of 1942.

Regards,

 

Sakai ran up against a flight of SBDs. They reported the action and even claimed credit. None of the TBF flights in action that day reported a similar incident. If the TBF gunners did not report shooting at anyone then it would be a good guess that they did not.

If you want to rate carrier based dive bombers, then the SBD walks away with the trophy. If you want to rate carrier bombers generally, then the TBF gets the nod. Dive bombing is real handy against heavily armed targets as it creates the most difficult AAA targeting problem. Against general targets, land or sea, for close in work, glide bombing is more than sufficient; this the TBF could do handily and carry more ordnance. If you want level bombing, the TBF could do that, too; the dive bombing SBD could not and the SB2C only in very special - and essentially unused - circumstances.

B6Ns could haul torpedoes or bombs, too, was good at level bombing on targets that held still, but could not fill as many roles as the TBF.

Someone mentioned survivability . . . statistically, the SBD had the best survival rate when compared to the TBF or SB2C.

Depends on the day of the week; which one do you want me to argue?

Rich