TBF/TBM-3 Avenger USN

Designed by Leroy Grumman, one of Grumman's founders, the TBF Avenger was intended to replace the obsolete TBD Devastator, and featured several design upgrades, including a wing folding mechanism that was used on all later Grumman WWII naval aircraft. The Avenger also held the distinction of being the heaviest single-engine aircraft of World War Two, and gave a tremendous performance in the war because of it, starting in August of 1942 and continuing until the Japanese surrender in 1945. The Avenger saw a variety of combat roles over both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, from torpedo and level bombing to anti-submarine warfare. Though the last Avenger was retired from military service in 1960, it continues in civilian use as a water-bombing firefighter and agricultural spray applicator aircraft.

The Avenger presented here is the TBM-3 variant (the most numerous), as produced by General Motors. Handcrafted construction and a high-quality U.S. Navy blue finish will make this item a stand-out piece for any collection.