History of the Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger
Just prior to the start of WW II the USN started to look for a replacement for their aging Douglas Devastator.
Grumman made a presentation of a prototype labeled as XTBF-1 that impressed the USN and they placed an order
to purchase. The plane was perfect for the Navy needs, a huge rotary engine that was enclosed in a barrel like
fuselage to cut down on drag, and with some increase in the fuselage and wing lengths would accommodate a three-
man crew. Production on what was now officially known as the TBF Avenger and would come to receive the
affectionate name of “The Turkey” from the pilots that flew them began in 1941 with first delivery just in time for the
Battle of Midway in June 1942. What started out as a carrier borne torpedo bomber soon turned into a close-support
bomber, a patrol aircraft and even a trainer.
Because of Grumman’s commitments to produce other aircraft and the fact that this plane was so well liked and in
such demand they had to contract the work out to General Motors. Grumman continued to make the Avenger until
December 1943. The Grumman plane was designated the TBF and the General Motors plane was the TBM. Of the
9,836 planes manufactured, GM made 7,546 of them.
Each variation of the Avenger only called for minor upgrades, such as adding 0.50 guns in each wing, maximum fuel
capacity increased from 335 to 726 gallons with two wing drop tanks and bomb bay ferry tank and calling it the TBM-
1C. Or the placing of a large radome in the bomb bay and naming this version the TBM-3W. These minor changes
made it possible for both Grumman and General Motors to make these modifications without slowing the production
rate. The final Avenger left the GM plant in June 1945.
Besides the large part played in WW II the Avenger is probably best known for the mysterious disappearance of a
flight of 5 planes on a training flight out of Florida and disappeared in the “Bermuda Triangle”.
After the war the Avenger was in demand in civilian life as crop dusters, forest fire water bombers, air shows, privately
own personal planes and for museums.
Just prior to the start of WW II the USN started to look for a replacement for their aging Douglas Devastator.
Grumman made a presentation of a prototype labeled as XTBF-1 that impressed the USN and they placed an order
to purchase. The plane was perfect for the Navy needs, a huge rotary engine that was enclosed in a barrel like
fuselage to cut down on drag, and with some increase in the fuselage and wing lengths would accommodate a three-
man crew. Production on what was now officially known as the TBF Avenger and would come to receive the
affectionate name of “The Turkey” from the pilots that flew them began in 1941 with first delivery just in time for the
Battle of Midway in June 1942. What started out as a carrier borne torpedo bomber soon turned into a close-support
bomber, a patrol aircraft and even a trainer.
Because of Grumman’s commitments to produce other aircraft and the fact that this plane was so well liked and in
such demand they had to contract the work out to General Motors. Grumman continued to make the Avenger until
December 1943. The Grumman plane was designated the TBF and the General Motors plane was the TBM. Of the
9,836 planes manufactured, GM made 7,546 of them.
Each variation of the Avenger only called for minor upgrades, such as adding 0.50 guns in each wing, maximum fuel
capacity increased from 335 to 726 gallons with two wing drop tanks and bomb bay ferry tank and calling it the TBM-
1C. Or the placing of a large radome in the bomb bay and naming this version the TBM-3W. These minor changes
made it possible for both Grumman and General Motors to make these modifications without slowing the production
rate. The final Avenger left the GM plant in June 1945.
Besides the large part played in WW II the Avenger is probably best known for the mysterious disappearance of a
flight of 5 planes on a training flight out of Florida and disappeared in the “Bermuda Triangle”.
After the war the Avenger was in demand in civilian life as crop dusters, forest fire water bombers, air shows, privately
own personal planes and for museums.
| Hobby Master 1/72 Air Power Series (Propeller Powered) HA1201 - TBM-1C, President George Bush VT51, USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) |
HA1201 TBM-1C George Bush
A must have model for anyone who collects
WW II memorabilia. This supremely fashioned
copy of one of the most recognizable airplanes
from WW II gives you a bomb bay door that can
be displayed open or closed, bombs and
rockets. For every American this is the best
opportunity to own a fine replica of a plane
piloted by an American hero who lived to
become President. With such detail and quality
this model will have you recalling the battles
and air strikes the brave men who flew these
birds had to experience. A definite complement
to any die-cast collection, you will proudly
consider this to be among your best.
A must have model for anyone who collects
WW II memorabilia. This supremely fashioned
copy of one of the most recognizable airplanes
from WW II gives you a bomb bay door that can
be displayed open or closed, bombs and
rockets. For every American this is the best
opportunity to own a fine replica of a plane
piloted by an American hero who lived to
become President. With such detail and quality
this model will have you recalling the battles
and air strikes the brave men who flew these
birds had to experience. A definite complement
to any die-cast collection, you will proudly
consider this to be among your best.
| Specifications (TBF Avenger) General characteristics · Crew: 3 · Length: 40 ft 11.5 in (12.48 m) · Wingspan: 54 ft 2 in (16.51 m) · Height: 15 ft 5 in (4.70 m) · Wing area: 490.02 ft² (45.52 m²) · Empty weight: 10,545 lb (4,783 kg) · Loaded weight: 17,893 lb (8,115 kg) · Power-plant: 1× Wright R-2600-20 radial engine, 1,900 hp (1,420 kW) Performance · Maximum speed: 276 mph (444 km/h) · Range: 1,000 miles (1,610 km) · Service ceiling: 30,100 ft (9,170 m) · Rate of climb: 2,060 ft/min (10.5 m/s) · Wing loading: 36.5 ft·lbf² (178 kg/m²) · Power/mass: 0.0094 hp/lb (0.17 kW/kg) Armament · 1x 0.30 cal (7.62 mm) nose-mounted machine gun · 2x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) wing-mounted machine guns · 1x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) dorsal-mounted machine gun · 1x 0.30 cal (7.62 mm) ventral-mounted machine gun · Up to 2,000 lb (900 kg) of bombs · 1x 2,000 lb (900 kg) torpedo |
History of G.H.W. Bush
The man who survived WW II to become the 41st U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush.
After graduating from Phillips Academy, Bush joined the U.S. Navy on June 12, 1942, his 18th birthday, as a seaman
second class. While the Navy normally required their aviators to have completed 2 years of college study, this
requirement was waived for Bush, without official explanation.
Bush was assigned to squadron VT-51 in September 1943, based on USS San Jacinto.
Bush flew his first combat missions in operations against the Japanese in the Marianas archipelago in June. On June
17, 1944, Bush was forced to make an emergency water landing and he and his two crew members were picked up
by a US Destroyer, although the plane was lost. Bush received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade on
August 1, 1944.
August 1944 saw the USS San Jacinto begin operating in the Bonin Islands. September 2, 1944 four Avengers
launched from the San Jacinto to neutralize a radio transmitter on Chichi Jima Island. Bush was one of the pilots and
during the attack, his plane was hit by triple A and caught fire. With fire spreading towards his fuel tanks he
persevered and dropped his bombs on the target scoring several hits. According to Bush he realized the plane was
doomed and headed out over the water where he issued the order for all to bail out. He was the only one to manage
an escape and live as one crew member died on impact with the water when his shoot failed to open and the other
went down with the plane. Bush was later picked up by a U.S. submarine. There seems to be some controversy to this
day as to what actually took place. The turret gunner in the plane that was in front of Bush’s Avenger claims there
were no flames and had Bush made a water landing his two crew members probably would have survived. For his
action in the raid Bush received the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his bravery and gallantry. Throughout his
career he also was awarded three more flying medals and the Presidential Unit Citation. In 1944 he had flown 58
combat missions and was reassigned to Norfolk Navy Base and put in a training wing for new torpedo pilots. He was
later assigned as a naval aviator in a new torpedo squadron, VT-153. With the end of the war, he was honorably
discharged in September 1945 and then entered Yale University.
After graduation from Yale he went on to become a U.S. Congressman from Texas, U.S. Ambassador to the UN,
Republican National Committee Chairman, Chief of the Liaison Office in the Peoples Republic of China, Director of
the CIA, Chairman of the First International Bank in Houston, 43rd Vice President under Ronald Reagan and 41st
President of the U.S..
The man who survived WW II to become the 41st U.S. President George Herbert Walker Bush.
After graduating from Phillips Academy, Bush joined the U.S. Navy on June 12, 1942, his 18th birthday, as a seaman
second class. While the Navy normally required their aviators to have completed 2 years of college study, this
requirement was waived for Bush, without official explanation.
Bush was assigned to squadron VT-51 in September 1943, based on USS San Jacinto.
Bush flew his first combat missions in operations against the Japanese in the Marianas archipelago in June. On June
17, 1944, Bush was forced to make an emergency water landing and he and his two crew members were picked up
by a US Destroyer, although the plane was lost. Bush received a promotion to the rank of Lieutenant Junior Grade on
August 1, 1944.
August 1944 saw the USS San Jacinto begin operating in the Bonin Islands. September 2, 1944 four Avengers
launched from the San Jacinto to neutralize a radio transmitter on Chichi Jima Island. Bush was one of the pilots and
during the attack, his plane was hit by triple A and caught fire. With fire spreading towards his fuel tanks he
persevered and dropped his bombs on the target scoring several hits. According to Bush he realized the plane was
doomed and headed out over the water where he issued the order for all to bail out. He was the only one to manage
an escape and live as one crew member died on impact with the water when his shoot failed to open and the other
went down with the plane. Bush was later picked up by a U.S. submarine. There seems to be some controversy to this
day as to what actually took place. The turret gunner in the plane that was in front of Bush’s Avenger claims there
were no flames and had Bush made a water landing his two crew members probably would have survived. For his
action in the raid Bush received the DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his bravery and gallantry. Throughout his
career he also was awarded three more flying medals and the Presidential Unit Citation. In 1944 he had flown 58
combat missions and was reassigned to Norfolk Navy Base and put in a training wing for new torpedo pilots. He was
later assigned as a naval aviator in a new torpedo squadron, VT-153. With the end of the war, he was honorably
discharged in September 1945 and then entered Yale University.
After graduation from Yale he went on to become a U.S. Congressman from Texas, U.S. Ambassador to the UN,
Republican National Committee Chairman, Chief of the Liaison Office in the Peoples Republic of China, Director of
the CIA, Chairman of the First International Bank in Houston, 43rd Vice President under Ronald Reagan and 41st
President of the U.S..
| THESE ARE PRE-PRODUCTION PICTURES THE RETAIL VERSION WILL BE MORE REFINED |
