TBF/TBM Avenger Units of World War 2 (Osprey Combat Aircraft 16)
Binding: Paperback
Creator: Tom Tullis
ASIN: 1855329026
Manufacturer: Osprey Publishing
Release Date: 1999-10-15
Average Customer Review: 
(From 1 total reviews)
List Price: $20.95
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Editorial Reviews
Product Description:
As its name suggests, the Avenger meted out severe retribution on the Japanese in the Pacific, participating in every major engagement through to VJ-Day. As a key weapon of war, the Avenger was so highly valued by the US Navy that its demand for the aircraft soon outstripped Grumman’s production capacity, so General Motors [GM] was contracted to build the near identical TBM from September 1942 onwards. Over 1000 Avengers also saw action with the Fleet Air Arm in both the Atlantic and the Pacific through to VJ-Day, and two squadrons of RNZAF TBDs fought alongside American Avengers on Bougainville in 1944.
Customer Reviews
Well-Rounded Introduction to Grumman’s Avenger! by Michael OConnor
The TBF/TBM Avenger saw global service in World War II, serving with U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, Fleet Air Arm and Royal New Zealand units. Entering service in June 1942 the Avenger became one of the Navy’s main strike aircraft and a first-class sub-killer in its own right. Noted aviation historian Barrett Tillman relates the combat career of Grumman’s portly but potent torpedo bomber in this Osprey ‘Combat Aircraft’ book, #16 in the series.
The Avenger’s combat introduction came in the Battle of Midway, VT-8 losing five of six TBFs sent against the Japanese fleet. With Grumman and Eastern Aircraft cranking out Avengers at a prodigious pace - almost 10,000 were produced from 1942 to 1945 - the Avenger soon made its presence felt, participating in all the major battles of the Pacific War. Along with engaging various Japanese fleet units till war’s end, Avenger units also pounded Japanese island bases, provided support for numerous invasion forces and sank over 30 Japanese and German submarines.
Author Tillman does a fine job of relating the Avenger’s war record, including a number of first-hand combat accounts in the book. The Avenger’s PTO record is covered in three chapters with single chapters on its sub-hunting exploits, RN/RNZAF usage and a Combat Assessment. Almost 100 photographs and 12 pages of color sideviews by Tom Tullis help create an comprehensive introduction to the Avenger.
Navy air war fans will enjoy this well-done, well-written and reasonably priced book. Recommended.
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