Grumman TBF Avenger

I flew in the TBF /TBM as an Aviation Radioman from 1943 until 1946. It was a great airplant. It always brought us home although sometimes with war wounds. I uas unfortunate enough to have three charshes in this plane.

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I was lucky enough to ferry a number of Avengers between two airports in Ontario Canada in the late 1960s. By then I was a newly graduated "jet pilot" in the RCAF -and although I had flown faster (by far) I had never flown anything that seemed bigger!

By then these classics were bud-worm sprayers -there were no torpedos on board -but in my imagination there were -and I flew the 20 odd miles of each trip at low level as if to avoid radar detection.

That huge round engine in front of you -and several yards of aluminium beneath you made you feel invulnerable!

An engine failure on short final of the last flight was a non-event -the gear was already down and the arrival a few feet short of the runway caused no more excitement than a long tow to the hangar where repainting was to take place.

Years later I used to see these planes at Fredericton New brunswick -in fact there was still one there last time I passed through. Pity I could never afford to own and fly one now -but at least I got a dozen flights 40 years ago. It is a classic!

Jock Williams Yogi 13

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I MADE ME FIRST CARRIER LANDING AND TAKE OFF ABOARD THE USS CABOT IN 1945 I WAS A TURRET GUNNER IN A VA SQDRN. MY PILOT WAS REQUALIFING FOR CARRER LANDINDINGS AND TAKE OFFS. I AM NOW 87 YEARS OLD AND THE MEMORY IS ONE OF THE HIGH LIGHTS OF MY NAVY CARREER.

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I was a Turret gunner on this plane in WWII in the South Pacific.
I keep a model of this plane that I bought and put together.
For old times sake.

Alan Airington

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I flew as gunner in the TBM Avenger during WW II in the Pacific theater where our composite squadron of fighters /torpedo bombers were assigned to VC 87. We flew bombing missions prior to and during military landings on several Japanese held islands. The aircraft was very reliable and I'm pleased to say my pilot and the TBM carried me safe through the war. I flew with Ensign George Gay in a few training flights. Ed Venturini, Hamilton, Ohio

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I was a Plane Captain on TBM's in WWII on CVE-62(USS Natoma Bay-Escort Carrier) in the Pacific. I believe the Bunker Hill was also a CVE.Our flight deck was only 490 feet long. Therefore, we usually catapulted the TBM's and flew the wildcats off.Once, when the catapult was broken, we flew the TBM's off, but with a lighter load.Most of them made it.I once had a ride in a TBM for a test-flight after repairs.The catapult take-off and arresting gear landing was quite a thrill for me.I rode in the ball-turret alongside a 50 cal. machine gun. Later I had several rides in the ball turret from land bases for glide-bombing practice. Quite a thrill.
You can Google "Natoma Bay" and get some idea of what it was.

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there is one of these planes at my work at the port of Brisbane (Australia ) it has the following markings 337,USS BUNKER HILL,its wings a folded back and up .
what can you tell me about this aircraft .i have some pictures of it but they are only on my phone . it also has a picture of a ladys heads and sholders and 4 japs ( kill flags)flags on left hand side under cock pit.
thanks
Kevin Loveridge Brisbane , Australia.

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