GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER

The Grumman TBF Avenger was one of the first purpose designed and built torpedo bombers to serve with the USN carrier and Marine land-based forces in WWII and replaced the Douglas TBD Devastator which having been first flown in 1935, had by 1939 already become obsolete as aircraft design progressed at breakneck speed with the onset of WWII.

As an offensive attack aircraft, the TBF Avenger had a rather auspicious beginning when a ceremony to open the new Grumman manufacturing plant and introduce the first TBF to the US public occurred on the same day the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Pearl Harbour.

The heaviest single-engined aircraft of WWII, the TBF Avenger (or TBM for General Motors built versions) incorporated the new Sto-Wing ‘compound angle’ folding-wing mechanism designed to maximise storage space on aircraft carriers.

Its powerful1900hp Wright R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone, fourteen-cylinder, radial engine, gave the Avenger a speed of 271mph with a flight range of over 1000 miles. The Avenger also featured one of the first electrically driven gun turrets with the rear gunner facing aft behind the radio operator/bomb aimer who sat behind the pilot - isolated from the rest of the crew in his fully enclosed cockpit.

Capable of carrying one Bliss-Levitt Mark 13 torpedo, a single 2,000lb bomb, or up to four 500lb bombs, the Avenger saw its first combat action during the battle of Midway when six TBFs were launched from the USN carrier Hornet along with the rest of the squadron's ageing Devastators.

Wether due to its inexperienced crew who had only just switched over to the TBFs or the lack of supportive air-cover, only one of the six TBF’s returned, heavily damaged - with one gunner killed and both the bomb aimer and pilot injured.

Later with growing American air superiority, better attack coordination and more veteran pilots, the TBF Avenger went onto play a vital role in the subsequent battles against Japanese surface forces with 24 TBF’s sinking the Japanese light carrier the Ryujo and claiming one dive bomber at the cost of seven aircraft during the next major naval battle in the Eastern Solomons.

During the Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942, Marine Corp and Navy Avengers also helped sink the Japanese battleship Hiei, which had already been crippled the night before.

One of the Avenger’s most famous pilots was then naval aviator (and future US President) George H. W. Bush whose TBF was shot down over the Pacific island of Chichi Jima. After successfully hitting their target the crew was forced to bail out over water with only the pilot surviving. Rescued at sea by the American submarine Finback, he later received the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Besides the traditional surface role (torpedoing surface ships), Avengers also claimed 30 submarine kills, including the cargo submarine I-52 making them one of the most  effective sub-killers in the Pacific theatre, as well as in the Atlantic, when escort carriers were finally available to escort Allied convoys. There, the Avengers contributed to the warding off of German U-Boats while providing air cover for the convoys.

Towards the final year of the war in the Pacific with the Japanese fleet greatly diminished, the TBF was gradually phased out by the Grumman Hellcat.

All Grumman TBF Avenger Instruments listed below come complete with detailed Scale Model, Mango Wood Stand & Plaque plus Printed Fact Sheet featuring photo of instrument in aircraft cockpit.

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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER WWII USN SLOTE & KLEIN AN-48440-1 FLYING HELMET WITH 'BLUE GLASS LENS' SEESALL FLYING GOGGLES

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER WWII USN SLOTE & KLEIN AN-48440-1 FLYING HELMET WITH 'BLUE GLASS LENS' SEESALL FLYING GOGGLES

    Battle-hardened, WWII veteran USN TBF Avenger, Slote Klein Flying Cap...

    $890.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER LIQUIDOMETER EA-010-1 FUEL INDICATOR

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER LIQUIDOMETER EA-010-1 FUEL INDICATOR

    Incredibly rare Grumman TBF Avenger early model, Liquidometer EA-010-1, 4...

    $890.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE GAUGE

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE GAUGE

    BU Aero US Navy 88-1-12650 Weston Electric, Grumman TBF Cylinder...

    $800.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER LOWER FUSELAGE, RED IDENTIFICATION LIGHT

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER LOWER FUSELAGE, RED IDENTIFICATION LIGHT

    Rare, Grumman TBF Avenger, lower fuselage mounted downward facing Red...

    $620.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER YELLOW/AMBER DOWNWARD FACING, FUSELAGE MOUNTED IDENTIFICATION LIGHT

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER YELLOW/AMBER DOWNWARD FACING, FUSELAGE MOUNTED IDENTIFICATION LIGHT

    Rare, Grumman TBF Avenger Yellow/Amber fuselage-mounted, downward-facing Identification Light

    $620.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER LOWER FUSELAGE, GREEN IDENTIFICATION LIGHT

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER LOWER FUSELAGE, GREEN IDENTIFICATION LIGHT

    Grumman TBF Avenger, downward facing, Green Fuselage Identification Light

    $620.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER, USN BU AERO, GENERAL ELECTRIC MKV RPM GAUGE

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER, USN BU AERO, GENERAL ELECTRIC MKV RPM GAUGE

    Grumman TBF Avenger, BU Aero USN Mk V, RPM Gauge

    $820.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER BENDIX - SCINTILLA TYPE EF MAGNETO IGNITION SWITCH

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER BENDIX - SCINTILLA TYPE EF MAGNETO IGNITION SWITCH

    Rare Grumman TBF Avenger Bendix Scintilla Type EF Engine Magneto...

    $730.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER RADIO ALTITUDE LIMIT SWITCH

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER RADIO ALTITUDE LIMIT SWITCH

    General Electric Radio Altitude Limit Switch used to set bombing...

    $700.00
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  • GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER RADIO ALTITUDE CONTROLLER

    GRUMMAN TBF AVENGER RADIO ALTITUDE CONTROLLER

    Rare Grumman TBF Avenger General Electric Radio Altitude Indicator

    $830.00
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