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TBF Avenger

Country United States Manufacturer Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation Primary Role Torpedo Bomber Maiden Flight 1 August 1941

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseThe TBF Avenger torpedo bombers were introduced in 1942 to replace the TBD Devastator bombers. Designed by Leroy Grumman, these bombers held three crew members: a pilot, a turret gunner, and a radioman/bombardier/ventral gunner. They were designed with a versatile large bomb bay, which allowed them to be excellent ground support bombers when carrying bombs in the torpedo bay. Their advanced radio equipment also made them good reconnaissance aircraft. Although a small number of TBF Avenger torpedo bombers were present at Midway during its namesake battle in Jun 1942, the first battle where significant number of TBF Avenger aircraft were present was the Battle of the Eastern Solomons between 23 and 25 Aug 1942, where 24 TBF Avenger aircraft sank the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo, which acted as bait to draw American aircraft away from their home carriers. During the First Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in Nov 1942, Marine Corps and Navy TBF Avengers played a role in the sinking of the battleship Hiei, but Hiei was not the only big prize earned by the TBF Avenger pilots. Toward the end of the Pacific War, these torpedo bombers claimed kills for both of the Yamato-class battleships.

ww2dbaseGeorge H. W. Bush, the future American president, was an TBF Avenger pilot. He received a Distinguish Flying Cross for bravely releasing his payload before crashing down in enemy territory on 2 Sep 1944.

ww2dbaseJim Metcalf, a TBF Avenger gunner of US Navy VT-13 aboard carrier Franklin, noted that the "TBF was a big, sturdy airplane. It flew like a brick but we loved her anyway. We thought she was a terrific bird that could take an enormous amount of damage." Bob Frank, a maintenance officer aboard Franklin in charge of TBF Avenger aircraft, recalled that they were "pretty reliable and somewhat versatile."

ww2dbaseSome TBF Avenger torpedo bombers made their way to Britain's Fleet Air Arm while a few others to New Zealand Air Force. Together with the United States, these were the only three countries that operated TBF Avenger aircraft during WW2.

ww2dbaseSources: Inferno, Wikipedia.

Last Major Revision: Oct 2007

TBF Avenger Timeline

1 Aug 1941 Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber took flight for the first time.

SPECIFICATIONS

TBF-1



Machinery One Wright R-2600-8 radial engine rated at 1,700hp Armament 3x7.62mm machine guns, 1x900kg torpedo or 900kg of bombs Crew 3 Span 16.51 m Length 12.48 m Height 5.00 m Wing Area 45.52 m² Weight, Empty 4,580 kg Weight, Loaded 7,214 kg Speed, Maximum 445 km/h Rate of Climb 10.50 m/s Service Ceiling 7,132 m Range, Normal 1,600 km Range, Maximum 1,950 km

TBM-3E



Machinery One Wright R-2600-20 radial engine rated at 1,900hp Armament 2x7.62mm machine guns, 3x12.7mm machine guns, 1x900kg torpedo or 900kg of bombs Crew 3 Span 16.51 m Length 12.48 m Height 5.00 m Wing Area 45.52 m² Weight, Empty 4,787 kg Weight, Loaded 8,117 kg Speed, Maximum 430 km/h Rate of Climb 10.50 m/s Service Ceiling 9,174 m Range, Normal 1,600 km Range, Maximum 1,950 km

Photographs

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