May 22, 2018 | 7 Image Story Posts, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2018, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018
TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | Takeoff The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber. Those designated TBM were actually manufactured by General Motors. It has a crew of three; pilot, gunner, and radio operator/bombardier. Avengers are powered by a 1,900 hp Wright R-200-20 radial engine. Its armament includes two .50-in. forward-firing machine guns; one .50-in. dorsal gun; one .30-in. ventral gun.; 2,000 lb. bomb/torpedo load. Also it’s capable of carrying the Norden bombsight. They were developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and entered service in 1942. They first saw action during the Battle of Midway and went on to become an outstanding torpedo bomber in WWII.
Length: 40 ft., 11 in. Height: 16 ft., 5 in. Wingspan: 54 ft., 2 in. Wing area: 490 sq. ft.
Empty: 10,545 lb. Maximum: 17,895 lb.
Max Speed: 276 mph at 16,500 ft. Cruise Speed: 147 mph Climb Rate: 2,060 ft./min. Ceiling: 30,100 ft. Range: 1,010 miles
See TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
May 21, 2018 | 7 Image Story Posts, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2018, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018
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TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | President Plane This Grumman TBM Avenger has been restored as a replica of LT. (J.G.) George Bush’s plane; who would later become the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush. President Bush was a high school senior on Dec. 7, 1941, at Phillips Academy Andover. On June 12, 1942, he turned 18, graduated from Andover, and shortly thereafter was sworn into the US Navy. A year later, Bush became an officer of the United States Naval Reserve, earned his wings as a naval aviator, and was assigned to fly TBM Avengers off the aircraft carrier San Jacinto in the Pacific. He was likely the Navy’s youngest flying officer; just days before his 19th birthday. As a member of the San Jacinto’s torpedo squadron VT-51, Bush flew an Avenger with the name “Barbara” inscribed.
At about 0715 on 2 Sep 1944, Bush took off along with his crew, William “Ted” G. White and John “Del” Delaney, to attack Chichi Jima, a Japanese island. An hour later, their plane was hit by AAA; setting his engine on fire. Choking on the smoke, he continued to fly his plane, a TBM Avenger, while dropping bombs and hitting his target, a radio tower. After flying the burning plane farther out to sea, he told White and Delaney to bail out before bailing out himself. The wind lifted him out of the cockpit and threw him backward into the tail. He cut his head and bruised his eye on the tail; then he pulled the ripcord and floated under his parachute until hitting the waves. Although badly injured, Bush managed to swim to a life raft about fifty feet away. He was alone bobbing on the ocean when he realized that White and Delaney were missing. After what seemed like many hours, a Navy submarine, the USS Finback, finally surfaced to rescue him.
For this action, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism under fire. During the war, he flew 58 combat missions for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, three Air Medals, and the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to his ship, the San Jacinto. It seems all together fitting and proper to have a plane named after him. See TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
May 20, 2018 | 7 Image Story Posts, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2018, Events, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018
TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | Takeoff Line A cloudy IFR morning gave way to a nice, hazy VFR afternoon for the 3rd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering held this weekend at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL. Eleven Grumman TBM Avengers beat the weather to attend this year’s event, a Salute to Veterans. Also, a Douglas A-26 Invader and a couple of T-6 Texans as well as three North American F-86 Sabres and a MiG-17 Fresco also made it to the gathering this year. Hopefully, next year’s event will see even better weather and more WWII aircraft to complement TBM Avengers. Looking forward to it already! See TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | a 7 Image Story for the whole story.
May 20, 2018 | 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.4-5.6 PD-Zoom, 7 Image Stories, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, AT-6 Texan, Aviation, Events, F-86 Sabre, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018, TBM Avenger Gathering 2018
TBM Avenger Gathering 2018 | a 7 Image Story A cloudy IFR morning gave way to a nice, hazy VFR afternoon for the 3rd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering held this weekend at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL. Eleven Grumman TBM Avengers beat the weather to attend this year’s event, a Salute to Veterans. Also, a Douglas A-26 Invader and a couple of T-6 Texans as well as three North American F-86 Sabres and a MiG-17 Fresco also made it to the gathering this year.
The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber. Those designated TBM were actually manufactured by General Motors. It has a crew of three; pilot, gunner, and radio operator/bombardier. Avengers are powered by a 1,900 hp Wright R-200-20 radial engine. Its armament includes two .50-in. forward-firing machine guns; one .50-in. dorsal gun; one .30-in. ventral gun.; 2,000 lb. bomb/torpedo load. Also it’s capable of carrying the Norden bombsight. Developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, it entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Although five Avengers were lost at Midway, it became one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of the war and remained in service until the 1960s after several modifications.
This Grumman TBM Avenger has been restored as a replica of LT. (J.G.) George Bush’s plane; who would later become the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush. President Bush was a high school senior on Dec. 7, 1941, at Phillips Academy Andover. On June 12, 1942, he turned 18, graduated from Andover, and shortly thereafter was sworn into the US Navy. A year later, Bush became an officer of the United States Naval Reserve, earned his wings as a naval aviator, and was assigned to fly TBM Avengers off the aircraft carrier San Jacinto in the Pacific. He was likely the Navy’s youngest flying officer; just days before his 19th birthday. As a member of the San Jacinto’s torpedo squadron VT-51, Bush flew an Avenger with the name “Barbara” inscribed. During the war, he flew 58 combat missions for which he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism under fire, three Air Medals, and the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to his ship, the San Jacinto.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Gathering 2018.
Click any image below for a slide show!
TBF/TBM Avenger Specifications
Length: 40 ft., 11 in.
Height: 16 ft., 5 in.
Wingspan: 54 ft., 2 in.
Wing area: 490 sq. ft. | Empty: 10,545 lb.
Maximum: 17,895 lb. | Max Speed: 276 mph at 16,500 ft.
Cruise Speed: 147 mph
Climb Rate: 2,060 ft./min.
Ceiling: 30,100 ft.
Range: 1,010 miles |
May 24, 2017 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, Daily Image 2017, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3
Rivets & Rain On every life, a little rain must fall. Fly-ins are no exception. Some of my best images come from rainy and/or snowy days. Sometimes, one must get just a tad bit creative to find a good subject. Of course, not everyone necessarily agrees with my choice of subjects. This image would benefit from my PCE 24mm lens back at the office. As so often is the case, the best camera and lens are the ones in your hands. Even with the rain, any day spent around airplanes is a good day.
May 20, 2017 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, Daily Image 2017, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Military Aircraft, Nikon 1 V3
TBM Avenger at the 2017 Gathering The rainy weather finally started to subside mid afternoon for the 2nd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering held today at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL. Seven Grumman TBM Avengers beat the weather to get to this year’s event. Five T-6 Texans and a Stearman as well as a F-86 Sabre and a MiG-17 Fresco also made it to the gathering. The crowds were quite a bit lighter this year, but everyone who stuck around into the late afternoon still had great time. This TBM Avenger, owned by the Heritage Flight Foundation, came all the way from Rhode Island to participate. Hopefully, next year’s event will see better weather and more TBM Avengers. Looking forward to it already!
May 19, 2017 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, Daily Image 2017, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Military Aircraft, Nikon 1 V3
TBM Avenger Gathering 2017 The 2nd Annual TBM Avenger Gathering will be held tomorrow at the Illinois Valley Regional Airport in Peru, IL. At least 14 Grumman TBM Avengers are expected to gather at this year’s event. Other warbird’s may also fly-in including B-25 Mitchells, A-1 Skyraiders, and P-51 Mustangs, F4U Corsair, F8F Bearcat, F4F Wildcat, F-86 Sabre, MiG-17 Fresco, and T-33 Shooting Star. The only dampener this is, of course, the weather. Today has been rainy all day and tomorrow will likely be the same. The crowds may be a bit lighter this year, but it will still be a great event, if the warbirds can get through the weather.
Feb 23, 2017 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, Aviation, Daily Image 2017, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Military Aircraft, Nikon 1 V3
TBM Avenger The 2nd annual TBM Avenger reunion will soon be back to Peru, IL. Yes, on Saturday May 20, 2017, many Grumman TBM Avengers will gather at Illinois Valley Regional Airport; possibly making it the largest gathering of airworthy Avengers, at least, since last years event. Really looking forward to it; last year’s reunion was a wonderful event; close to home.
