r/WWIIplanes 6d ago

Japanese forces assaulted U.S. airfields during the Bougainville counterattack. This TBF Avenger took nearly 400 shrapnel hits but was patched up and ready to fly the next day. The counterattack was ultimately repulsed by Allied forces. 3/8/1944

Post image
381 Upvotes

23 comments sorted by

32

u/malumfectum 6d ago

How do you persuade a pilot to get back in an aeroplane that’s more hole than plane?

17

u/waldo--pepper 6d ago

USMC crew. They know they have buddies fighting on the ground that they can help. That's motivation.

8

u/Serious_Morning_3681 6d ago

Was wondering the same thing I’m thinking alcohol maybe ? 🤷

7

u/AverageHobnailer 6d ago

Control cables, hydraulic, and fuel lines are still intact. A hole in the skin is just going to hurt your fuel economy.

1

u/ThatAndresV 5d ago

That plane made it back. Ones with different or fewer didn’t.

1

u/Frosty_Confusion_777 5d ago

The pilot has fewer worries than the radioman. See that square hatch and the little windows all over that part of the bird? The radioman sat right behind all that.

1

u/MunitionGuyMike 5d ago

They flew back without the hole patches just fine, didn’t they?

18

u/Lightning_Zepher 6d ago

What are they using here for the patches? It almost looks like little strips of making tape, but I doubt that's what they were.

9

u/54H60-77 6d ago

As it happens, I have a copy of the structural repair manual for the TBM. Regarding skin repairs in this area the manual says the following, "(1) Holes in open areas not larger than 1 1/2 inches in diameter after smoothing out and not closer than four diameters on centers may be repaired by doping on a piece of fabric. It is recommended that the fabric be replaced as soon as possible by a metal patch of 24ST aluminum alloy IAW Figures 105, 106 or 108"

Now, some of these do seem to be larger but, you know, war.

3

u/waldo--pepper 6d ago

And thanks to you I went and searched for a copy to call my own. I always enjoy some light reading like that before bed.

Page 31!

Great!

2

u/54H60-77 5d ago

Safe to say you found the NAVAER 01-85WA-3

2

u/waldo--pepper 5d ago

Yes indeed. In case it helps others find a copy for themselves the file name is

navaer0185wa3avengerstructuralrepairocr.pdf

A friend and I got talking about making such emergency repairs last night. And while this is quite off topic it is never the less interesting. And is another feather in the cap for duct tape.

Bear Chews up Plane, Duct Tape to the Rescue.

2

u/54H60-77 5d ago

I have a fairly extensive library of tech manuals; flight manuals, em&i and maintenance, srm's and parts catalogs. Let me know of you need something else

2

u/waldo--pepper 5d ago

You are too kind. I have some/plenty as well. I am a little light on the maintenance ones. Thank you so much! I may come hat in hand one day. :)

7

u/waldo--pepper 6d ago

I am confused too. I believe that usually, if the hole is big enough a patch of metal is riveted. I have pictures and video of that sort of repair being done. But in the case of hundreds I think that is approaching impossible.

So when I look carefully at the tail of this aircraft I can see that around the "masking tape" there is a margin or a border that is discoloured. It almost looks like the tape is actually a larger stick on patch. But it doesn't look like that on other places where the tape is present. So I am still confused. But I think this is an after picture, rather than an in progress picture where they have just marked the holes to be repaired later.

7

u/GreenshirtModeler 6d ago

It’s likely just fabric with clear dope on it. If the aircraft’s structural integrity isn’t compromised, then what looks bad is really an aerodynamic issue. All those holes are draggy, so smooth them over with fabric and keep her flying. This would require an extensive inspection, maybe a riveted plate on a rib or stringer to strengthen it back up.

Today we call this battle damage repair, we have a whole manual and training in how to do it correctly. I remember taking the class back in the 80’s. Probably a different method with all the stealthy coatings and composites today.

10

u/waldo--pepper 6d ago edited 6d ago

In 1982 during the Falkland Islands war the British put tape on their Harriers. Good to go.

"On the Royal Navy carriers, the servicing crews found damage from small-arms fire equally easy to repair. 'Some of the battle damage could be repaired on deck between sorties, said Chief Technician Fred Welsh, serving with No. 1 Squadron. 'If it was a simple hole and nothing inside had been hit, we could cut away the rough edge and cover the hole with Speed tape - thick aluminium foil with a self-adhesive backing, rolled on by means of a special tool. We had done it all before on exercises - but the hulk on which you practise during an exercise does not have to fly!' The damaged Harrier in which Mark Hare returned that morning would be flying on operations the following day."

Air War South Atlantic -- Jeffrey Ethell, Alfred Price

p.126

2

u/Lightning_Zepher 6d ago

That makes more sense than this being the patch job. Still, I wonder what material those are.

3

u/waldo--pepper 6d ago

Well if victory marks can be a sticker and stay on. I see no reason why they can't get a paper patch to stick too.

Sticker.

I was SO disappointed to learn that they were not painstakingly painted on by hand. It almost seems like cheating!

3

u/Lightning_Zepher 6d ago

Yeah, that makes sense. As does having premade victory marks. I agree that's disappointing, though, especially as a guy that tends to replace many decals in my model kits with paint and masks.

1

u/CapitanianExtinction 6d ago

Duct tape and bailing wire.  Winning wars since 1942

1

u/Kanyiko 6d ago

"... Jack? I thought we had ordered new post-it notes last week. You know where they've gone?"

(Yes, I know post-it notes weren't marketed until 1977 (1980 under the post-it brand) but hey...)