The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was an American torpedo bomber, developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and used by a large number of air forces around the world. It entered service in 1942, and began major use during the Battle of Midway.

The Avenger had a large bomb bay, allowing for one Bliss-Leavitt Mark 13 torpedo, a single 2000 lb (900 kg) bomb, or up to four 500 lb (230 kg) bombs. Torpedoes were generally abandoned after Midway and were not carried again regularly until after June of 1944, when improvements mandated their use again. By that time, it was rare for American aircraft to encounter enemy shipping at sea and the Avenger was primarily employed as a ground support weapon. The plane had overall ruggedness and stability, and pilots say it flew like a truck, for better or worse. With a 30,000 foot (10,000 m) ceiling and a fully-loaded range of 1,000 miles (1,600 km), it was better than any previous American torpedo plane, and better than its chief opponent, the then obsolete Japanese Nakajima B5N "Kate".

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a US Navy TBM-1C Avenger torpedo plane, which was embarked upon the escort carrier USS Petrof Bay (CVE-80) during 1945. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 10-inches
Length: 8-inches

Release Date: July 2026

Historical Account: "Blopsy" - Composite Squadron 76 (VC-76) was a United States Navy composite squadron during World War II, active from November 1943 to September 1945, and was equipped with both FM-2 Wildcat fighters and TBM Avenger torpedo bombers. It was involved in operations from an escort carrier, the USS Petrof Bay, where a TBM Avenger from the squadron experienced a crash landing.

Composite squadrons, in general, were composed of both senior members and cadets and carried out various missions, including Air Education (AE), Aerospace Education (AE), Cadet Programs (CP), and Professional Development (PD) in the Civil Air Patrol context. VC-76's specific operational role within the Navy is more directly tied to its carrier-based operations during the war.