Summer of Flight – TBM Avenger

Intended to replace the TBD Devastator, the Avenger was a larger aircraft with space to carry torpedoes internally in a bomb bay. Although designed by Grumman and classified as the TBF, production demands of wartime meant that 7,546 of the 9,837 produced were built by General Motors. The Museum’s TBM (BuNo 53454) was built at the Eastern Aircraft Division Plant in Trenton, New Jersey. 

 The Museum’s Avenger wears a paint scheme that pays tribute to US Navy Ace Captain Richard “Zeke” Cormier. Cormier had 75 combat missions in the Atlantic flying Avengers while hunting German U-Boats before he transferred to the Pacific where he would become an ace flying 61 missions in the Grumman F6F Hellcat. The aircraft’s markings are that of Composite Squadron 1 (VC-1) that operated from the USS Card (CVE-11). 

Saturdays at 1pm from May to September, the Military Aviation Museum will be showcasing historical aircraft and commemorating important wartime events through narrated flying demonstrations.

Experience the rumble from the engine up close as you hear from the pilots about what it is like to fly these incredible aircraft, learn about the battles they participated in, and about the men and women who built, flew and maintained them during the war!

Summer of Flight is included in your general museum admission and free for museum members. Each event starts at 1:00 pm unless otherwise noted.

Flights, Aircraft and Topics subject to change. Due to inclement weather, dates may be rescheduled to a later date or canceled. All flights are weather and maintenance permitting.