Which AC?

[TOMLABEL]

What aircraft is this getting ready to land? Is this too easy???

[vettim89]

Got to be a Slow But Deadly - which version I don't know. It is obviously at least a two person A/C. The fact the photographer is haging out the side means it isn't a TBF/M. The roundels on the A/C on deck are too early in the war for SBC-2. Hence SBD

[TOMLABEL]

ORIGINAL: vettim89

Got to be a Slow But Deadly - which version I don't know. It is obviously at least a two person A/C. The fact the photographer is haging out the side means it isn't a TBF/M. The roundels on the A/C on deck are too early in the war for SBC-2. Hence SBD

Second hint...

[Local Yokel]

TBD?

[Yamato hugger]

Look at the plane on the deck in front of it. Looks like a rear firing turret to me. TBF.

[Terminus]

Except that it's clearly an SBD, with a meatball in the star.

[witpqs]

ORIGINAL: TOMLABEL

ORIGINAL: vettim89

Got to be a Slow But Deadly - which version I don't know. It is obviously at least a two person A/C. The fact the photographer is haging out the side means it isn't a TBF/M. The roundels on the A/C on deck are too early in the war for SBC-2. Hence SBD

Second hint...

Got it! It's Wrong-Way Corrigan's airplane. He's trying to land by heading away from the carrier.

[Howard Mitchell]

I think it might be a TBD-1 Devastator, with the top picture taken from the middle cockpit as it shows a whole heap of cockpit frames, whereas on the SBD the rear canopy slid forwards much more cleanly and lay flush with the fuselage. The aerial on the SBD is also mounted well to the port, so I think it would be visible through the canopy if it was an SBD. On the TBD it was more or less central.
 
I agree with Terminus and don't think it is a TBF/M on deck either, the wings are too low, which would make it either another TBD or an SBD.
 
Not sure the second picture adds much, except that it obviously is an open rear cockpit like the TBD or SDB rather than a turreted TBF/M. You can see what look like the hinged panels which fold downwards to free the rear MG when it is put into place.

[MkXIV]

Any chance it is a SB2U?

[AW1Steve]

SNJ?

[AW1Steve]

Kingfisher?

[Crimguy]

I agree 100%

But I've been wrong before.

ORIGINAL: Howard Mitchell

I think it might be a TBD-1 Devastator, with the top picture taken from the middle cockpit as it shows a whole heap of cockpit frames, whereas on the SBD the rear canopy slid forwards much more cleanly and lay flush with the fuselage. The aerial on the SBD is also mounted well to the port, so I think it would be visible through the canopy if it was an SBD. On the TBD it was more or less central.

I agree with Terminus and don't think it is a TBF/M on deck either, the wings are too low, which would make it either another TBD or an SBD.

Not sure the second picture adds much, except that it obviously is an open rear cockpit like the TBD or SDB rather than a turreted TBF/M. You can see what look like the hinged panels which fold downwards to free the rear MG when it is put into place.

[TOMLABEL]

That's it. TBD Devastator. I thought the open pilot canopy and partial of the forward windscreen would be the dead giveaway![;)]

[witpqs]

Yeah but was Corrigan flying it?

[wdolson]

It looks like an SBD to me.  The picture pointing aft has a shadow of the guns in it and it looks like a pair of .30s.  That would make it a late -3 or -4.  The field modified -3s had a pair of .30s, but the gun doors had a sort of home made look to them.  The factory delivered double gun versions had a more natural look.  The doors also look too wide for a single .30.

I believe the aerial was on the starboard side, so it wouldn't be visible in a shot out the port side.  It would make sense to put an aerial on the starboard side because the LSO stands on the port rear corner of the flight deck and it's vital the pilot sees him.

Bill

[Ellsid]

Helldiver SB2C