XTBF-1 Avenger

Developed in the early 1940s by Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, the XTBF‑1 Avenger was the prototype that defined the U.S. Navy’s most successful torpedo bomber of World War II. First flown on 22 August 1941, the two‑seat, mid‑wing monoplane featured a powerful Wright R-2600‑20 radial engine delivering 1,700 horsepower, a large internal bomb bay, and a distinctive solid‑stiff wing structure that permitted a 2,100‑pound torpedo or equivalent bomb load. Its spacious cockpit accommodated a pilot, turret gunner and a radio operator/ventral gunner, while the defensive armament comprised a powered nose turret with a .50‑caliber machine gun and a flexible rear position. The aircraft’s robust undercarriage and reinforced hull allowed operation from aircraft carriers under combat conditions. Production quickly shifted to the TBF‑1 and later the TBM series, powering major engagements in the Pacific, including the Battle of Midway and the carrier raids on Japan. The Avenger’s versatility extended beyond torpedo attacks; it performed level bombing, anti‑submarine patrols, and later served as a transport and training platform. Its lasting legacy lies in its combination of firepower, range, and survivability, making it a benchmark for carrier‑based attack aircraft.