First flown on 1 August 1941, the three-seat Grumman TBF-1 Avenger torpedo-bomber entered United States Navy solution simply eventually to participate in the Battle of Midway in June 1942. During its World War II lifespan, the Avenger design changed very little, and also this allowed that it is built in huge amounts. Interest in the airplane ended up being so great that the General Motors Company was additionally contracted to build it, underneath the designation TBM-1, starting in September 1942. Over 1,000 TBF/TBMs (designated Avenger Mk we) had been also employed by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm both in Atlantic and Pacific theaters. The Avenger ended up being also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The second major variation was the TBM-3, which showcased strengthened wings to permit rockets and radar pods to be carried.
