Grumman TBF Avenger Torpedo Bomber In View #3

Ordnance men working to load a Mark 10 aerial mine into the bomb bay of a TBF-1C of Torpedo Squadron VT-16 aboard USS Lexington (Essex-class), 29 March 1944 off the Palau Islands.

Two F6F-5N Hellcat of Marine Night Fighting Squadron VMF(N)-541 escorting a TBM-1C Avenger near Palau, 1944.

USS Essex departing San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, 15 Apr 1944; note camouflage measure 32 design 6/10D.

USS Essex departing San Francisco Naval Shipyard, California, 15 Apr 1944; note camouflage measure 32 design 6/10D.

Avenger aircraft aboard HMS Illustrious just prior to Operation Transom, May 1944.

TBF-1 Avengers with Composite Squadron 55 flying over the Atlantic from escort carrier USS Block Island, April-May 1944.

Aboard San Jacinto, Lieutenant Commander Albert B. Cahn gave signal to a VT-51 TBM-1C Avenger to take off for an exercise, 16 May 1944.

Essex-class carrier Yorktown underway in the Mariana Islands, June 1944; note camouflage Measure 33, Design 10a; also F6F Hellcat fighters, TBF Avenger torpedo bombers, and SB2C Helldiver dive bombers.

TBM Avenger landing on USS Guadalcanal about 6 June 1944 while the carrier was towing the captured submarine U-505. Guadalcanal’s hunter group captured U-505 in the western Atlantic on 4 June 1944.

TBM Avenger from carrier Langley raided Iwo Jima in support of the operations in the Marianas Islands, 15 June 1944.

TBM-1C Avenger crash landed aboard USS Hornet (Essex-class) after the landing gear collapsed due to hydraulic failure from battle damage, 15 June 1944.

TBM-1C Avenger crash landed aboard USS Hornet (Essex-class) after the landing gear collapsed due to hydraulic failure from battle damage, 15 June 1944.

USS Marcus Island at Espiritu Santo, 15 June 1944; note Camouflage Measure 32 Design 15A.

A VT-51 TBM-1C Avenger took off from San Jacinto to attack Guam, 28 June 1944.

A TBF-1C Avenger over Tinian, Mariana Islands, July 1944 during an attack on the Japanese Ushi Point Airfield, later to become North Field.

P-47 Thunderbolts of the 19th Fighter Squadron share the airfield with Marine Corps TBM Avengers Isely Field on Saipan, Mariana Islands, mid-1944. Note incomplete Japanese hangar.

USS Essex in the Pacific during the Mariana Islands operations, July 1944. Note F6F Hellcats, TBF Avengers, and SB2C Helldivers on the flight deck.

US Navy pilot Lt (jg) C. Clifton Francom unsuccessfully testing TBM Avenger torpedo bomber with experimental wing mounted radome aboard Ticonderoga, 4 July 1944.

US Navy pilot Lt (jg) C. Clifton Francom unsuccessfully testing TBM Avenger torpedo bomber with experimental wing mounted radome aboard Ticonderoga, 4 July 1944.

US Navy pilot Lt (jg) C. Clifton Francom unsuccessfully testing TBM Avenger torpedo bomber with experimental wing mounted radome aboard Ticonderoga, 4 July 1944.

US Navy pilot Lt (jg) C. Clifton Francom unsuccessfully testing TBM Avenger torpedo bomber with experimental wing mounted radome aboard Ticonderoga, 4 July 1944.

 

TBM-1C Avengers of VT-2 with wheels and arrester hooks down above the carrier Hornet (Essex-class) after a strike on Guam, 18 July 1944. Note rocket rails and ASB radar antennas under the wings.

US Navy K-class airships of Airship Patrol Squadron ZP-11 and several TBM Avengers in hurricane storage at NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts, United States, 14 September 1944.

F6F-5 Hellcats of Air Group 11, the “Sundowners,” warm up on the deck of USS Hornet (Essex-class) in the Philippine Sea, late 1944.

TBM-1C Avenger in flight, 1944-45, location unknown.

TBM-1C Avengers with Torpedo Squadron 87 on a training flight from NAS Oceana, Virginia, September-November, 1944.

U.S. Navy Captain Harold Martin greeting VAdm John McCain, Sr. after a trap landing aboard light carrier San Jacinto, late 1944.

WAVES and Women Marines mechanics marching, Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, circa 1944-1945; note PBM-3D, OS2U, and TBM aircraft.

Damaged aircraft on the hangar deck of the USS Independence, 6 October 1944 following heavy seas three days earlier. Note the hand-tied rope lashings to secure the aircraft. Note also the AIA radar antenna in the damaged radome.

San Jacinto rolling heavily and pitching in rough seas while en route to attack Okinawa, 6 October 1944; note parked TBM Avenger aircraft of VT-51 on the flight deck.

TBM Avenger of Torpedo Squadron VT-20 just after landing aboard USS Enterprise off Okinawa, 10 October 1944.

Pilots of VT-51 returned to San Jacinto after attacking the Japanese carrier force, Battle off Cape Engaño, 25 October 1944.

San Jacinto’s VT-51 Avenger aircraft being armed with a Mark XIII torpedo for Battle off Cape Engaño, 25 October 1944.

Zuikaku settling as she sinks, 25 October 1944; profile of an Avenger is seen flying overhead.

Firefighters on Belleau Wood fighting flames caused by a special attack aircraft, in the Philippine Islands, 30 October 1944; note TBM Avenger aircraft on flight deck and Franklin burning in distance.

USS Belleau Wood after fires were put out and damaged aircraft were jettisoned after being struck by a special attack aircraft earlier in the day, off the Philippine Islands, 30 October 1944. Note hole in flight deck.

Airplanes on the ramp at Naval Air Station Livermore, California, 1944-45. Note F4F (or FM2) Wildcats, SB2C Helldivers, and TBM Avengers.

SB2C-4E Helldivers and TBM Avengers of Air Group 87 from the USS Randolph during the carrier’s shakedown cruise in the Trinidad area, November 1944.

TBM-1C Avengers, SB2C Helldivers, and F6F-5 Hellcats of Air Group 20 are spotted on the forward flight deck of the Fleet Carrier USS Enterprise, August-November 1944. Note 40mm Bofors anti-aircraft guns.

USS Shamrock Bay underway, 10 November 1944.

US Navy pilot Ensign C. V. ‘Vern’ Higman landing on Ticonderoga after a raid on Ormoc Bay, Philippine Islands, 11 November 1944; note AA damage on TBM-3 Avenger aircraft ‘Round Trip Ticket’.

Bomb bay camera in a TBF-1 Avenger from USS Essex captures the moment of bomb release over the Pasig River in downtown Manila, Luzon, Philippines, 14 November 1944. Attack was on the dock area 2,000 yards further ahead.

Spray over the bow of USS Anzio, Pacific Ocean, 17 November 1944.

TBM-1C Avengers, F6F Hellcats, and SB2C Helldivers of Navy Carrier Air Group 18 from USS Intrepid at Peleliu, 27 November 1944.

TBM-1C Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 87 aboard carrier Randolph during Randolph’s shakedown cruise to Trinidad, November-December 1944.

USS Anzio rolling in heavy seas, Pacific Ocean, 17 Dec 1944; note Avenger aircraft in foreground and Wildcat aircraft in background.

Flight deck crew chief giving taxiing instructions to a just-landed TBM-1C Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 81 aboard USS Wasp, 23 December 1944; the aircraft had just returned from searching for Typhoon Cobra survivors.

A TBF-1 Avenger noses over while landing aboard the training aircraft carrier USS Sable on Lake Michigan, 1945.

A TBM Avenger catches its propeller in the barrier wires and noses over after landing aboard the training aircraft carrier USS Sable on Lake Michigan, 1945.

A TBM-3 Avenger with a Marine bombing squadron rests on a Pacific airfield, 1944-1945.

An aircraft tug moving an SB2C Helldiver into position on the flight deck of the carrier USS Yorktown (Essex-class), 1945. Note TBM Avenger spotted on the deck.

Eighteen TBM Avengers in flight, 1943-45.

Shipboard aircraft tugs moving a TBM-1C Avenger torpedo bomber and F6F Hellcat fighters aboard the fleet carrier USS Lexington (Essex-class), 1945.

TBM Avenger of Composite Squadron VC-76 after a crash landing aboard the Escort Carrier USS Petrof Bay, 1945.

TBM-1C Avengers and an F4F Wildcat, probably with Marine squadrons, lined up at Dulag airstrip, Leyte, Philippines in late 1944 or early 1945.

TBM-3 Avenger making low and slow pass over other Avenger aircraft on the flight deck of USS Makin Island, 1945.

TBM-3E Avenger circles over the flight deck of USS Antietam off Hawaii, 1945. Note F4U Corsairs and F6F Hellcat on the flight deck.

USS Makin Island’s flight deck and island, late 1944-mid 1945; note arresting wires, barrier wires, 4 FM-2 Wildcat aircraft, and 1 TBM Avenger aircraft.

Corsair fighters taxi down the runway at Orote Field, Guam, Marianas, 1944-45. Note F6F Hellcats lining the runway in the foreground and TBM Avengers on the far side.

Seven TBM-3D Avengers modified for night action of VT(N)-90 flying from the carrier Enterprise, Jan 1945 Western Pacific.

Four TBM Avengers of Torpedo Squadron 4 flying from the USS Essex on their way to strike targets along the coast of French Indochina (now Vietnam), 12 January 1945.

TBM-1C Avengers of Torpedo Squadron 4 from USS Essex crossing the Indochinese coast (Vietnam) on their way to bomb shipping in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City), 12 January 1945.

Escort Carrier Bogue at anchor in Bermuda with TBM Avengers on the flight deck running up their engines, February 1945.

TBM Avengers and SB2C Helldivers flying from the carrier Bunker Hill, western Pacific, February 1945.

Essex-class carrier USS Bon Homme Richard cruising in the Gulf of Paria between Trinidad and Venezuela on her shakedown cruise, 7 February 1945. Note TBM Avenger on her deck and Coast Guard guard boat alongside.

TBM-3 Avenger of VT-82 flying from the carrier Bennington struggles to remain airborne after receiving heavy damage in a mid-air collision with another Avenger over Chi Chi Jima, 18 February 1945.

A 37mm gun on Iwo Jima beach with Mount Suribachi in background, 20 February 1945; note the TBM Avenger flying overhead.

TBM-3 Avenger of Marine Torpedo Squadron 242 at Motoyama #2 airstrip, Iwo Jima preparing for Anti-Submarine Patrol, February-March 1945.

U.S. Navy TBM-3 Avenger over Iwo Jima, Japan, March 1945; note Mount Suribachi in center of photo and Allied ships to left.

A TBM Avenger trailing smoke returning to the carrier USS Essex after being damaged by Japanese anti-aircraft fire during a strike on Minami Daito Jima in the Okinawa Operation, 28 March 1945.

Fletcher-class destroyer USS Harrison steaming alongside carrier USS Bennington as Bennington’s TBM Avengers run up their engines, early 1945 in the Western Pacific.

TBM-3 Avenger flying over Mt Suribachi on Iwo Jima after US forces had fully occupied the island, March-April 1945. Note storage tanks, tents, and other improvements set up by US forces.

F4U Corsairs and TBM Avengers of Air Group 6 aboard USS Hancock off Okinawa, Japan, 2 April 1945.

Six TBM-3 Avengers of Torpedo Squadron 6 flying from the carrier Hancock during a raid on Amami-O-Shima in the Okinawa campaign, 4 April 1945.

TBM Avenger torpedo planes of Composite Squadron 84 from USS Makin Island flying over Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands, Japan, 16 April 1945.

Aviation ordnance men loading a Mark XIII torpedo into the bomb bay of a TBM Avenger aboard USS Bennington, May 1945. Note the torpedo’s plywood drag ring on the nose and wooden tail shroud.

F6F Hellcat fighter coming up on the Number 3 flight deck elevator on USS Yorktown (Essex-class), early 1945. Note TBM-3 Avengers and SB2C Helldivers also on deck.

TBM-3 Avengers with Torpedo Squadron 87 flying from the carrier Ticonderoga, May 1945.

Royal Navy Avenger aircraft flying from HMS Indomitable in flight over Ishigaki Airfield, Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan, 9 May 1945.

TBM aircraft of US Navy squadron VC-13 landing aboard USS Anzio, Pacific Ocean, 20 May 1945.

TBM-3 Avenger of Marine Squadron VMTB-242 taxiing past USAAF P-51D Mustangs at Iwo Jima’s Motoyama Airfield No 1, 1945.

Planes from USS Essex on a raid over Japan on 10 July 1945 with Mt Fuji in the background. Plane in foreground is a TBM Avenger and those beyond are SB2C Helldivers.

F6F-5 Hellcat, TBM-3 Avengers, and SB2C-4E Helldivers of Carrier Air Group 87 aboard Ticonderoga, June-August 1945.

TBM-3 Avenger of Torpedo Squadron 6 flying from USS Hancock flies over ships of Task Force 58 around Okinawa, March-August 1945.

TBM-3 Avenger with Torpedo Squadron 87 landing aboard USS Ticonderoga, June-August 1945.

TBM-3 Avengers of Torpedo Squadron VT-86 flying from USS Wasp (Essex-class), late August 1945.

After the announcement of the Japanese surrender, crewmen broke into a spontaneous celebration on the flight deck of the training aircraft carrier USS Sable on Lake Michigan, United States, 15 August 1945.

TBM Avengers from the USS Wasp (Essex-class) dropping more supplies for POWs in the Narumi sub-camp No 11 in Nagoya, Japan, 28 August 1945.

The bomb bay of a TBM Avenger aboard USS Wasp (Essex-class) packed with clusters of sea bags filled with supplies to be dropped by parachute on prisoner of war camps holding US servicemen in Japan, 28 August 1945.

TBM-3 Avenger aircraft of Composite Squadron 41 from USS Makin Island en route to Wakayama, Japan, September 1945.

F6F Hellcat launching from USS Intrepid’s starboard catapult, 1945. Note SB2C Helldiver and TBM Avenger spotted on the deck. Note also Independence-class light carrier cutting across Intrepid’s bow.