Grumman TBF Avenger

The Grumman TBF Avenger was the U.S. Navy's standard carrier-based torpedo bomber for most of World War II. A large, rugged single-engine aircraft with a crew of three, it carried a torpedo or bombs in an internal bay and mounted defensive guns including a power-operated dorsal turret. The Avenger made its combat debut at the Battle of Midway in June 1942, where nearly all of the six aircraft committed were lost; despite that costly start, the type matured into one of the war's most effective attack aircraft.

Avengers sank numerous Japanese warships, including the battleships Yamato and Musashi, and excelled in anti-submarine patrol. Grumman and General Motors (which built the type as the TBM) produced roughly 9,800 examples. The Avenger remained in service into the 1950s in various roles.