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American TBF-1C - This is a model of a carrier based Navy torpedo bomber that flew against the Japanese in the South Pacific in late 1942. The Avenger was designed to replace the Devastator and it first saw combat at the Battle of Midway in June, 1942, when six of them flew from Midway Island against the Japanese fleet. Avengers had replaced the Devastator in all of the Navy's carrier based squadrons by the time of the Guadalcanal campaign in August. Grumman, however, could not produce Avengers fast enough so General Motors started building Avengers at a faster pace in late 1942. The Avengers built by GM were given the designation of TBM, and they began to enter service in 1943. In December, 1943, Grumman ceased production of the Avenger altogether in order to concentrate on producing the F6F Hellcat. Avengers were provided to the British navy starting in 1943. They initially called them Tarpons, but adopted the nickname of Avenger in 1944. The Avenger was very successful as a torpedo bomber, but it could also drop depth charges and regular bombs. About 9,800 Avengers were produced, and more than three quarters of them were built by GM. |
More Photos: Left, Right, Top, Front Angle Right, Front Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Rear Angle Left, Above Left, Above Right |
TBF Avenger 1/72 Scale Model Kit Box Art
