Grumman Avenger at the Fleet Air Arm Museum

Did you know the Fleet Air Arm operated a number of American-built Grumman Avenger torpedo bombers?

The Avenger was the heaviest single engine aircraft of the Second World War and was introduced to replace the Douglas TBD Devastator. The type first flew in August 1941 and entered service with the US Navy in 1942. The aircraft saw extensive action during the Battle of Midway and was used to great affect as a torpedo bomber. The Avenger is famous for sinking the Japanese carriers Musashi and Yamato.

Initially called the Tarpon by the Brits, the Grumman Avenger also entered service with the Royal Navy. Interestingly, while much slower than the V1, a Royal Navy Avenger was credited with shooting down a Doodlebug Flying Bomb, owing to the quick reactions of the dorsal gunner who managed to score a number of hits from 600 metres.

Barns Wallis invented the bouncing bomb, with upkeep mines being used against the Mohne, Sorpe and Ader dams during the Dam Buster Raids. A smaller version of the mine known as Highball was developed and trialled on a number of Avengers, however they were to prove unsuccessful.

Avengers would continue to be operated by the British until 1954, when they were gradually phased-out by the Fairey Gannet. They would then see service in the French Navy until the late 1950s.

Other operators of the Avenger aside from the US Navy and the Fleet Air Arm were the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Several Avengers were adapted after the war to be used as water bombers and spray applicators and they were used until as late as 2012.