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Description
The U.S. Navy "Avenger" torpedo bomber was developed by Grumman right before America joined World War II and classified TBF, but most Avengers were built by General Motors and classified TBM as Grumman wanted to concentrate on fighter production at its own factory. During the war, it sank or helped sink several Japanese warships such as Yamato, Musashi, Hiei (battleships), Ryuujou, Hiyou (aircraft carriers), and I-52 (the submarine that tried to sail to Germany and back). Two of the most famous Avenger aircrew were future president George H.W. Bush and Hollywood actor Paul Newman. Meanwhile, in British service, the Avenger made several air-to-air kills against much faster enemies like the Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki and V-1 flying bomb. After the war, Avengers were used by Canada, New Zealand, and other countries as submarine hunters, crop dusters, and water bombers. It was also the Avenger that formed Flight 19, the squadron that vanished over the Bermuda Triangle and inspired many paranormal and UFO stories. One of the surviving Avengers that is still airworthy is NL7030C, a TBM-3E sent to the Philippines shortly before Japan surrendered and used more as a water bomber than a torpedo bomber. It is displayed at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach with the wings folded, awaiting the next airshow.

Description
The U.S. Navy "Avenger" torpedo bomber was developed by Grumman right before America joined World War II and classified TBF, but most Avengers were built by General Motors and classified TBM as Grumman wanted to concentrate on fighter production at its own factory. During the war, it sank or helped sink several Japanese warships such as Yamato, Musashi, Hiei (battleships), Ryuujou, Hiyou (aircraft carriers), and I-52 (the submarine that tried to sail to Germany and back). Two of the most famous Avenger aircrew were future president George H.W. Bush and Hollywood actor Paul Newman. Meanwhile, in British service, the Avenger made several air-to-air kills against much faster enemies like the Nakajima Ki-44 Shoki and V-1 flying bomb. After the war, Avengers were used by Canada, New Zealand, and other countries as submarine hunters, crop dusters, and water bombers. It was also the Avenger that formed Flight 19, the squadron that vanished over the Bermuda Triangle and inspired many paranormal and UFO stories. One of the surviving Avengers that is still airworthy is NL7030C, a TBM-3E sent to the Philippines shortly before Japan surrendered and used more as a water bomber than a torpedo bomber. It is displayed at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach with the wings folded, awaiting the next airshow.