TBM-3E Avenger

The TBM‑3E Avenger was a carrier‑based torpedo bomber built by General Motors’ Eastern Aircraft Division during World War II. Introduced in early 1944, it was the most produced variant of the Avenger series, with over 4,300 units delivered to the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and allied air forces. Powered by a 1,700‑horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-2800‑22 radial engine, the TBM‑3E could reach 275 mph and carry a 2,000‑pound torpedo, a bombload of up to 2,000 pounds, or a combination of rockets and depth charges. Its design featured a sturdy, all‑metal airframe, a large 42‑inch propeller, and a spacious crew compartment for a pilot, turret gunner, and radioman. Improved armor, self‑sealing fuel tanks, and a more powerful armament of two forward‑firing .50‑caliber machine guns plus a dorsal turret gave it superior survivability compared with earlier models. The aircraft proved decisive in Pacific anti‑shipping missions, notably during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, and later transitioned to peacetime roles such as antisubmarine patrol, transport, and aerial firefighting. The TBM‑3E’s blend of range, payload, and ruggedness cemented its legacy as a versatile workhorse that helped shape carrier aviation doctrine in the mid‑twentieth century.