[danzigzag]

para troopers for the tb3 wtf

yes,

you are not confusing the TB-3 (as in Tupolev 4x engine bomber) with the Avenger (TBF-1/TBM-3) are you? TB-3 was used as a paratrooper transport.

Source: "Soviet Combat Aircraft of the Second World War Volume Two: Twin Engined Fighters, Attack Aircraft and Bombers" by Yefim Gordon, Dmitri Khazanov, Alexander Medved

Pg142 picture caption "TB-3s also earned their keep as paratroop platforms."; "Paratroops departed the TB-3 via the trailing edge of the wing."

"It was still not really safe to use the aircraft for bombing, so in an attempt to avoid heavy losses the command decided to use it only as a transport to drop cargo by parachute. The TB-3 had been evaluated in this role before the war. [...] [I]t could also accomodate 35 soldiers with ammunition or 30 equipped paratroopers. [...]

"In the autumn of 1941 [...] The Soviet command decided to transport the 5th air Assault Corps to the region [Orel], and 6,000 personnel along with ammunition, armament, trucks and guns were delivered there by air in three days. Two thirds of the 60 aeroplanes which participated in this operation were TB-3s, and all of the flights were made in daytime without fighter escort. No losses were reported during the operation.

The TB-3s also operated in January 1942 as paratroop carriers for Vyazma, and September 1942 around Dnepr.

These could be interesting missions, especially since the TB-3's are fully flyable and with gun positions.

dzz