TBM-1 Avenger

The TBM‑1 Avenger was the first production model of the Grumman TBF/TBM series, a torpedo bomber that entered service in early 1942. Built under license by General Motors’ Eastern Aircraft Division in Linden, New Jersey, the TBM‑1 represented the transition of a naval aircraft from a small ship‑yard to mass‑industrial production, delivering more than 7,800 units by war’s end. Powered by a 1,850 hp Wright R‑2600‑20 Cyclone radial engine, the aircraft could carry a single Mark 13 torpedo or up to 2,000 lb of bombs, and featured a spacious 15‑foot, 2‑seat cockpit that accommodated both pilot and gunner. Its defensive armament consisted of a .50‑caliber forward‑firing machine gun and a .30‑caliber dorsal gun turret, while the wing‑mounted hardpoints allowed external stores. The Avenger’s rugged airframe, forgiving handling, and long range made it a versatile platform for anti‑ship strikes, level bombing, and later, as a night fighter and electronic‑warfare testbed. Its most famous crew member was future President George H. W. Bush, who served as a TBM‑1 pilot in the Pacific Theater. The aircraft’s success cemented carrier‑based strike capability and influenced post‑war naval aviation design.

General Motors

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