TBM-3D Avenger, VT(N)-90, USS Enterprise, 1945

Air Group Night 90 embarked on Enterprise Dec 1944-May 1945. Only two squadrons were assigned to the first Night Air group deployed in the USN. They adopded a forward arrow outline containing the plane numer. VF(N )-90 was equipped with -5, -5N and -5P Hellcats painted overall Sea Blue. VT(N )-90 were equipped with TBM-3D.

VT(N )-90 flew heckler missions to Tokuno, Kikai, and Kyushu in their final flights before retiring to Ulithi. Night Torpedo Squadron Ninety was commissioned on 25 August 1944. In early October they started training with their original 8 aircraft mostly from VT10. TBM-3D was a late-war modification to add an APS-3 radar hard mounted on the right wing leading edge and ECM (Electronic Counter Measure) equipment.
It took nearly three weeks to plan and complete the 99 modification to convert these first 8 aircraft for night operations. A further 19 aircraft received these modifications in a weeks time in order to make the December 24 sailing date.
The white markings and insignias were over-painted with NS Sea Blue (or Black?) to make them less visible at night.
The turret gun and it’s equipment along with the stinger gun were removed to save weight since its primary mission was night attack