Exciting news AFP: US team to recover WWII bomber from Pacific lagoon Details of the aircraft and some fantastic photos American Aircraft
I doubt that the difference in speed between the TBD and say, the TBM Avenger was enough to be significant, and the defensive armament was the same (both had a 0.5 in the dorsal turret; the Avenger's ventral gun made little difference in practice). The disaster at Midway was due to not having a fighter escort. And anyway the TBD was a lot faster and better armed than a Swordfish!
TIGHAR have been going on and on about these Devastators so it's good to see they're finally doing something. Putting their money where their mouth is, so to speak.