Grumman TBF Avenger (BuNo 00380). A crew from Torpedo 8, VT-8, is taking charge of this brand new airplane at Norfolk, Virginia in March 1942. Unit markings had not yet been painted on the fuselage sides; prior to leaving Norfolk, this aircraft had “8-T-1” painted on its fuselage. While most of the unit were still flying Douglas TBD Devastators, a small detachment with six of the new TBFs including 8-T-1 were sent to Midway to continue training on the new aircraft. During the battle of Midway, this detachment flew a mission against the Japanese fleet and only this aircraft managed to return to Midway. All of VT-8’s Devastators were shot down on the same mission. 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. The Avenger entered U.S. service in 1942 a...