N7001C - GRUMMAN TBM 3 AVENGER

GRUMMAN

TBM-3 AVENGER

85794

N7001C

Used

2512.0

VT-88 Squadron History "It is with reverence in our voices and affection in our hearts that we speak about “the plane”. For to us she was not merely a plane, any plane, but the plane. Yes, the pilots couldn’t have chosen a better job, that of torpedo pilot, and a better plane, the TBM, better known as the Grumman Avenger.” Lt. Commander James C. Huddleston, VT-88 VT-88 was commissioned August 15, 1944 and completed training at Martha’s Vineyard. Total personnel numbered 100 with 28 pilots that had under gone combat training at Miami and Fort Lauderdale, They were red-blooded young Americans from every walk of life, for the most part kids jerked right out of school, not old enough to vote, yet old enough to fly a torpedo plane to the heart of the Japanese Empire. Carrier qualification was on the Jeep Carrier, USS Solomon. The squadron departed Otis Field, February 5, 1945 and spent the next 2 months in advanced training in Hilo, Hawaii. They boarded the USS Yorktown at Leyte and were assigned TBM-3’s, nine of which would become battle damaged including this aircraft. VT-88 was the only squadron in the air group that did not lose a man in combat, but did lose 5 men in training accidents. R2600-20, JRS Overhaul, 0 SPOH, Fresh Annual, Working Turret, 6 Place Intercom, Garmin 250XL GPS/Com. Price Reduced

15

SMOH