Grumman Avenger (Torpedo bomber)

The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American World War II-era torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and also eventually used by several air and naval aviation services around the world. From 1942 on, production of the Avenger (representing nearly three-quarters of its the total production) was subcontracted to a purposely established division of General Motors, the Eastern Aircraft Division. The Avenger entered U.S. service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway, losing five of the six Avengers on its combat debut. The Avenger remained in service to become the most widely used torpedo bomber of World War II, particularly in the Pacific Theater, where it helped to sink numerous surface ships, including the super battleships Yamato and Musashi. The Avenger was also one of the most effective submarine killers in both the Pacific and Atlantic, with about 30 kills, including the cargo submarine I-52. Greatly modified after World War II, the Avenger remained in use until the 1960s.