GENERAL MOTORS TBM-3E  “AVENGER” (GRUMMAN TBF) T- TORPDEO B- BOMBER M- GENERAL MOTORS  (F) GRUMMAN The Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors began producing the Avenger in 1943 while Grumman refitted its production line to build other aircraft.  A total of 9,836 Avengers were built.   The Avenger made its combat debut at the Battle of Midway where only one of six Avengers survived the battle.  The Avenger was used by USMC torpedo bombing squadrons through out the Pacific Theater.  The “Turkey,” as it was nicknamed, was used in a variety of different task during its military career to include Bomber, Torpedo Bomber, Anti-submarine warfare, Carrier on board Delivery (COD), Airborne early Warning (AEW) and Training. This Avenger was accepted on 16 June 1945 and did not see combat. It was retired in 1962 after spending its career with various training units in the Navy and accumulating a total of 792 hours. SPECIFICATIONS WING SPAN   54’ 2” WING AREA   490  SQ FT LENGTH   40’ HEIGHT   16’ 5” EMPTY WEIGHT  10,545  LBS GROSS WEIGHT  17,895  LBS ENGINE   WRIGHT R-2600-20 – 1900 HORSEPOWER MAX SPEED   276 MPH CRUISE SPEED   147 MPH RANGE    1,010  NAUTICAL MILES ARMAMENT   2-FIXED FORWARD .50 CAL MACHINE GUNS     1 x DORSAL .50 CAL MACHINE GUN     1 x VENTRAL .50 CAL MACHINE GUN     2000 LBS INTERNAL BOMB LOAD