First flown on August 1, 1941 the Avenger was able to enter service with the Navy just in time for 6 of them to make an appearance at the Battle of Midway. Flown by crews that were just barely familar with the TBFs, the Avenger did not get off to a very good start. 5 of the 6 TBFs were shot down and the 6th Avenger just made it back to Midway with heavy damage.
The TBFs got on the scoreboard on August 24, 1942, note this was just over a year after the first flight. At the naval battle of the Easter Solomons the Avengers were able to help in the sinking of the IJN Ryujo with the loss of only seven of thier numbers. Had the TBF's had an effective aerial torpedo thier effectiveness would have been greatly increased.
Grumman engineers developed a new wing folding mechanism to help maximize the Available deck space on carriers. It was needed as the Avenger was the largest single engine US Navy carrier aircraft of WW-II. Make take off weight of the TBF's was almost 18,000 pounds, the SB2C Helldiver came in at 13,700 pounds. The Avenger design changed little during the war. This allowed for a large number of the TBF and TBM, Avengers buit by GM, to be produced. 9,836 Avengers were built, General Motors accounted for over 7500 of the total.
The Royal Navy took delivery of just over 1000 Avengers where at first they were known as Tarpons. The RN soon changed back to Avenger and the type saw service through out WW-II with the Royal Navy in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. The Royal New Zealand Air Force which used the Avenger in a bomber role from South Pacific islands.
The sturdy construction of the Avemgers coupled with a range of 1000miles enabled the Avengers to give yeoman service in the anti-submariine role. Flying off the escort carriers of the US Navy and the Royal Navy the TBFs/TBMs proved to be a deadly adversary for both the German U-Boats and the IJN I-boats. It was the use of Avengers flying off of the "Hunter-Killer" escort carrier groups that helped to turn the tide in the Battle of the Atlantic.
After WW-II the Avengers saw service with the air arms of The Netherlands,Canada' Japan, Brazil and Uruguay. Many others saw service as fire attack bombers in the western United States and in Canada as well. Several are still flying in that role today!!! There are over 40 TBF/TBMs still flying today a testament indeed to Grumman Aircrafts nickname of "The Iron Works" So on with the pics.
First up a pic by Glenn Alderton to lead off the Flyby :-)
A nice pic of a TBM at Oshkosh a few years ago showing off the wing fold mechanism of the Avenger. The F6F Hellcat also used the same type wing fold device.
An genuine US Navy WW-II color pic of an Avenger landing aboard the USS Cowpens in late 1943.
Ain't she a beaut, mate, here is an inflite shot of a beautifully restored TBM.
Another inflight pic of an Avenger, this time showing off the wing planform and the powered turret to good effect.
To close out tonights Flyby we have a pic of a TBM on it's bomb run with a Zero closing in. Where are them Hellcats anyways?
Y'all have a greta weekend and a Happy Easter to all the Canteeners. Stay out there, PLEASE!
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
