The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM [1] for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval aviation services around the world.

Apr 1, 2023 · The Grumman TBM-3E “Avenger” is the late World War Two variant of the original Grumman TBF Torpedo bomber first flown in 1941. The TBM-3E production began in 1944 and was manufactured by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors in Ewing, NJ now the Trenton Mercer Airport.

The TBM-3E Avenger, now located at Hangar No. 1 U.S. Naval Air Station Wildwood, New Jersey, is a rare extant example of the U.S. Navy's leading torpedo bomber. Throughout World War II, Avengers flew with the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Marines and the Royal Navies of the Allies in every theater of the conflict, successfully carrying out reconnaissance ...

Introduced in 1941, the Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger was to become the U.S. Navy’s standard torpedo-bomber throughout World War II. Production totaled more than 9,830, nearly three-quarters of them built under the designation TBM by the …

During WWII the Avenger was regarded as a rugged torpedo plane; used in the Pacific. This aircraft is a TBM-3 “Avenger” torpedo bomber. Purchased by the Aircraft Carrier Hornet Foundation in 1998, it has been restored by volunteers with funds provided through donations.

General Motors TBM-3E Avenger Originally designed as a Torpedo Bomber, the Avenger moved past its inauspicious combat debut at the Battle of Midway to become the most effective and widely-used naval attack aircraft of its kind during WWII.

The last Avengers in an active Navy squadron were the TBM-3E variant in antisubmarine squadron 27, which were grounded in October 1954- They flew on with the reserves until early 1956. Although ungainly and relatively slow, the Avenger was an important U.S. naval aircraft for more than a decade.

Starting in mid-1944, the TBM-3 began production (with a more powerful power plant and wing hardpoints for drop tanks and rockets). The Avenger was used by a number of Marine Corps squadrons, both on land and from a number of dedicated aircraft carriers.

This TBM-3E was built by General Motors and delivered to the Navy in June, 1945 where it served until being retired in 1953. It was sold to a civilian buyer in 1957 and used as an airborne fire fighter.

TBM-3E #53353 was assigned to VS-27 which was an Air Anti-Submarine Squadron. Designated as a trainer during the Korean War, #53353 and assigned to VS-27 whose aircraft had seen action off the carriers USS Kula Gulf, USS Siboney and USS Boxer Island.