Flying the Grumman TBF "Avenger" (1944)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
- This video was used to train U.S. Navy pilots.The Grumman TBF "Avenger" was President George H.W. Bush Sr's aircraft in World War 2. See the film used to train pilots to fly it.The Avenger was a tough and accurate aircraft that had a reputation for taking punishment and bringing it's crew home. Relatively easy to fly, the big Avenger was surprisingly nimble. More than 7,500 TBF/TBM Avengers were produced in 20 variants. It was also the heaviest single engine aircraft in World War 2. The "TBF" was the Grumman version; the "TBM" was produced my General Motors aircraft division.
"See the TBF at an air show near you -- they're still flying!" Zeno, Zeno's Warbird Video Drive-In www.zenoswarbir... Don't miss our "US Navy in Action" DVD with five more videos & SBD3 Dauntless pilot's manual bit.ly/HW5LVa Visit our aviation DVD store at www.zenosflight... for the World's largest selection of World War 2 & vintage jet aircraft aviation videos
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My father's younger brother, Greer Pinchot Osborne was killed in an Avenger, bombing Formosa (Taiwan) in November, 1944. He was, just, 19 years old. Dad completed 50 missions with the 15th Air force in a B17 bomber. They are, rightly referred to as the Greatest Generation.
ok boomer greatest my fkn a$$
Fkn japz took that brave young man's life.
Sorry for your loss. 🇺🇲
I really enjoyed this video. My father was a Marine TBF Avenger pilot during the Guadalcanal campaign. He's gone now but the Avenger treated him well or I wouldn't be writing this. He would have really enjoyed this video but he passed away in 2013 and never did warm up to the internet. He suffered from Alzheimer's the last several years of his life so even though this video was published in 2012 he never got to see it. Too bad. But he probably saw the original in 1942!
My uncle Richard (still living and active at 97) flew TBF's in the Pacific for almost 4 years. He and his crew had to bail out of one and they crash landed another on their carrier that was almost shot in two. Late in the war, they started running out of targets for the TBF's and they transitioned him into Corsairs for the last 6 months or so of the war. He says that he never saw a flying Japanese aircraft in all of that time. They strafed supply lines and anything else that moved on the ground.
My dad said he liked flying the Avenger better than the Corsair because it was easier to fly. More stable.
My dad was a radio man tail gunner navigator
Flew off the USS GAMBIER BAY ( baby flattop) I wish we could have watched this together.
Didn’t have TH-cam while he was around.
Thanks for showing me what it was like.
Clay Ketcham My Dad, Jesse Boyce Holleman, also flew off the USS Gambier Bay. He was shot down over Saipan on June 17, 1944. He survived and crash landed in water, he was burned badly and spent 14 months in hospital
His two crew members bailed out over Saipan and have never been found. Howard Bacon and Red Rivers RIP. They found the remains of his plane a few years ago. blog.ecu.edu/sites/pmht/the-wrecks/aircraft/tbm-avenger/
Your dad as on *THE* Gambier Bay?!Was he on board for the Battle off Samar?
I really appreciate the restored WWII training videos, thank you. Much better than Netflix.
My father was a US Navy combat cameraman in the Pacific who flew many carrier-based combat missions in Avengers, during which he doubled as an air gunner. He had a very high opinion of this aircraft, and felt far safer going into combat in one of these than in it's contemporary, the Curtiss Helldiver. Once, off the coast of the Philippines, he was in an Avenger that was forced to ditch into the open sea. The Avenger was so strongly built that it remained afloat, and he and the pilot were able to escape into the rubber dinghy (unfortunately, the top turret gunner had already been killed by enemy fire). In fact, the Avenger was so tough that they had to shoot it full of holes with their pistols in order to get it to sink. They were off a Japanese-occupied part of the coast, and were concerned that they enemy would spot the floating airplane and come out in a boat to capture them. Becoming a prisoner of the Japanese was regarded as a circumstance to be avoided at all costs. After spending some hours in the dinghy they were finally rescued by an American destroyer.
Robert Guttman my great uncle was a Helldiver radioman/gunner and had low opinion of the aircraft.
Robert Guttman,my grand father flew in the navy to,but during the viatnam war
@@Thunderdog73 your great uncle and Michael's dad need to sort their experiences out. Fly Navy🛩
Dad was the radio man, his squadron was aboard the Enterprise, were trained for night missions, had no idea how complicated it was but he loved that plane. Had a perfect model of one he built in college, went on to be an aeronautical engineer at McDonnell Douglas. Still have models he helped me build 45yrs ago
My dad was a Navy pilot in WWII and wish we knew where some of his buddies were and his wing man....he loved flying...became a minister...died last year...amazing man.I'm not just bragging, he was so strong.
+Dave Brillhart Sorry for your loss. Dave. I know the feeling and you're right, they were amazing men. Watching these videos, I marvel at the complexity. I wouldn't have made it through the first week of flight training.
Mine was a Marine in the mud
Rest in Peace and thanks for your families service - these men either were or became 100% courage and duty.
My uncles "Tip" Ellingsworth and Leo Ellingsworth were radioman/gunners on the Avenger during WWII. Uncle Leo did not make it to past his training days at the Naval Air Station in Alameda, CA. He died April 1943 (I think when his pilot was trying to qualify for carrier landings). Uncle Tip's plane flew from the USS Bogue in the Atlantic. His plane crashed during take-off, but he and other crew members were quickly plucked from the water. Uncle Tip survived the war. Uncle Leo's death, from letters of his to a sister, beg explanation . Obituaries and his gravestone show he died April 27, 1943, but a final letter from him is hand-dated April 29, 1943 and postmarked the same date. In the letter, he had to sign-off to get ready for an apparently personal and imminent trip to Mexico. I'm going to send a letter of inquiry to the Navy.
My dad was a gunner in VT-1 on the USS Bennington 1944-45. Had scars, but never talked about the war.
My uncle flew the F4 in Vietnam. I love watching these instruction videos. Thank you. 🙏🇺🇸
You’re welcome👍
Fantastic Video
My father was a Navigator in the Fleet Air Arm World War two and flew in these to attack a U Boat and its supply ship.
Good for your dad. Mine was a mechanic -- an aviation machinist mate -- in the USN. Used to fly in TBF, SBD, and others to pick up flight pay, and worked on nearly every airplane the USN had. He was at Norfolk when HMS Illustrious and HMS Formidable were being repaired in 1941. The British and American sailors teased each other about who had the worse torpedo plane. At the time, the USN flew the Douglas Devastator, TBD, which the TBF replaced after nearly all the TBD's were shot down at the Battle of Midway.
Really enjoyed this film. My dad was a gunner and mechanic in a TBF squadron (VC-42) in both Atlantic and Pacific. They sometimes took off before dawn, a very dangerous operation in those days. Many planes were lost taking off and if it happened a night you had to wait till dawn before they began to look for you.
I'm going to have to check our records, but I believe my grandfather was in that. If so we will have to get in contact!
My father flew an Avenger off of the USS Hancock during WW2. In the fall of 1944, he flew a Captain named Kernodel over to the USS San Jacinto to assume command during October's Hurricane Louise (just prior to December 18th's Typhoon Cobra, 3 destroyers sunk, 100 planes lost, many other ships heavily damaged, and 790 men killed). He said he volunteered in a moment of stupidity. During the briefing, they told him he was to land on the the USS Franklin, a fairly large carrier, and to maintain radio silence, buzz the bridge and they would signal him in. He went by the bridge twice with no response before they came over the radio and asked him "What the hell are you doing out there?". He replied that he had rank aboard and was instructed to land on the Franklin. They then directed him to the USS San Jacinto, a much smaller carrier. My father said the San Jac was wobbling all over the water and it was a bit hairy. The first approach he missed and the wind blew him miles back. He landed the second time. His crewman said "Boy Mr. Morey, that Captain's legs were a shaking" to which my father responded "His weren't the only ones". The USS San Jacinto was the carrier that George H.W. Bush was assigned to. He had been was shot down in September and was still aboard the USS Finback submarine so he was not on board at the time. My father ran into the Captain some years later and he was Admiral Kernodel. My dad reminded him of that day and the Admirals eyes immediately lit up and welcomed my father into his office for a long chat. Amazing stories of brave men. So lucky to have had him...
Thanks for that!
Glad to send this reply, My father was a turret gunner on a avenger. he is 92 and still can remember when he went down with just him and the pilot the radioman did not get out before the plane sank. They were picked up by a destroyer. he still
misses his good friend who did not survive. He is still around today and I want to get as much history I can. He was on a jeep carrier in the Atlantic and Pacific.
I enjoyed reading your dad's recount of his harrowing adventure! My dad (who passed away 2 years ago at age 100) was in the Navy during WWII and was in Nagasaki a month after 'the bomb' detonated there as part of the Marines ground forces(!)
The whole bush family are a bunch of globalist cocksuckers
Thanks for sharing with us such a wonderful story the Avenger has always been my favorite naval airplane, this gets me fired up to get a 1/32 model to build. God bless to you and yours and thanks once again for the great story. Michael Berry
I saw a restored Avenger in Christchurch's Air Force Museum,I was amazed how big it was.
Come for a road trip to the Manawatu. Airworthy one of these based at Ohakea. Flys regularly also.
Grumman (TBF) and GM (TBM) manufactured all the Avengers. They were modified somewhat by foreign operators to meet their particular requirements
I'm still honoring all your fathers and grandfathers who flew in the TBM Hope to see you at an air show , I'll be with Avenger 309
Love these old training vids!
My father rode 'the bubble in the back' as he called it off the Nehenta Bay (CVE-74). He said riding back there scared the hell out of him.
Can you imagine?! I would love the opportunity to buy your dad beers and hear stories.
Don my father was in the bubble with VT-10 on CV-6 Enterprise and he told me that too
My grand dad was a prop twister on the USS Reef. Worked with Captain Boyingtons squad.
Much credit to the pilots of these planes there were so many details to remember.
That plane was extremely complicated to fly and it took rare courage to fly it over the vast Pacific.
They were using these planes for fire fighting about 10 years ago. Amazing power.
When my dad wint threw training all pilots were trained to fly all plane's on board and ship. It was fun to go to air shows with him because he would quiz the pilots on the plane. Not so much fun coming in for a landing with him as the only way he landed was 3 point and as close to the end of the runway as he could.
The Avenger was the only single engine aircraft the U.S. utilized in WW II that outweighed the P-47, and then only by 400# at max gross.
Because Bush Sr. had his two crewmembers bail out first, they landed so close to Chichi-jima that they floated back toward the island and were captured. And among six other American crewman who suffered this fate, they were later beheaded, although some of them had to a degree made friends with and had gained the respect of the Japanese. If you'd like to understand the WW II Japanese viewpoint, the first 60 pages of Flyboys is the best place I know to start.
How interesting to see them using metric temps back then.
You're welcome!
Zeno
We love this docu. Great post. We are going to share it in our official board where we are posting videos of the incredible planes that made history and were equipped by a Waltham Clock. Actually, we were onboard of the TBM, the American version of TBF manufactured by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors. Thanks
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www.zenosflightshop.com Don't miss our "US Navy in Action" DVD with 'The Avenger" & five more videos & SBD3 Dauntless pilot's manual bit.ly/HW5LVa
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"Avoid all stunts and other such shenanigans."
LOL!
Tom B If you’ve ever been up close to or inside a TBF, the idea of doing “stunts” in one is akin to going pedal to the metal in a fully loaded ten wheel diesel truck around the Grand Prix track at Monte Carlo.😏
@@ZenosWarbirds Yeah, I'm sure. They're beasts. I've stood on the wing of one many years ago at Oshkosh--but I've never flown one. They seem to be built like a pulp truck though.
@@ZenosWarbirds Girl-friend and I were camping in New Brunswick about fifty years ago when a Canadian pest-control TBF flew overhead a little above tree-top. (I think they were spraying against black-fly). The trees shook, the ground shook, it was like heavy-weight thunder from all directions. The TBF was a powerhouse up close, and underneath. (Incidentally, my dad was an aviation machinist mate, 1941 - 1945. He loved the TBF and the SBD. Disliked the SB2C. He was at Norfolk in 1941, when the Navy Yard was repairing two British carriers. He said that British sailors would come visit the NAS, take a look at the TBD, the Devastator, and say, "One way trip". Of course, Dad was not impressed with the Swordfish when he saw pictures.)
I have the pleasure of seeing one fly on a regular occasion way down here in New Zealand. We have one based only about 10km from where I live at Ohakea Airbase. Love hearing that round engine and have been up close to this bird. As a heavy diesel tech myself I can appreciate the sheer strength that this plane has built into it. As a pilot I just love that rotary checklist idea, brilliant. And that description from the narrator on approach, controls heavy and sloppy, not bad characteristics really. Lol that's gold, translates to flying a fully loaded semi onto a narrow bridge here in nz😂😂
Exactly! Was going to comment that same thing:)
Found some of the remaining parts of one of these at a mountain lake. It was about all I could do to stand the wheel strut vertical for a photo. Solid heavy steel. Large robust aircraft. The precise build of the parts was very impressive. It had crashed into a rugged cliff area but small parts were as good as new. Could tell by the New Jersey name plates it was a GM version.
The pilot had perished with his craft.
Was only one on board.
Bill, I recently purchased a TBM, missing some small gear uplockparts. would you mind sharing with me location of this particular TBM. persanal email is ssorge@wi.rr.com
Wonderful video. I really enjoyed that!
That looks so fun.
My father flew an Avenger from the Battle of the Philippines to Okinawa from an escort carrier.
The Japanese were more intelligent regarding use of their torpedo bombers. At Pearl, due to the shallow harbor near Battleship Row the Kates (Nakajima B5Ns) had to fly at 100 mph IAS, making them easy targets for antiaircraft fire, so Genda planned on running them in after the horizontal and dive bombers, though it proved unnecessary. On the American side, at Midway the Devastators (Douglas TBDs) went first only to be shot out of the sky, Ensign Gay being the only survivor of a whole squadron.
OK, now I have a greater appreciation of pilots; do all that while being shot at and chased. I would be reading the manual every 2 minutes....
This Channel is fantastic
22:30 - NO SHENANIGANS!
pdutube
Well that’s just swell...🤣
NO FARGIN' TRICKS!!
Interesting video of the characteristics of the Avenger.
George H W Bush flew one of these in WW2. I saw his Avenger at Duxford in the UK around 1996, no idea how it got there or why but it was departing for the US.
I believe the .Grumman' version of the plane was the 'TBM', the 'TBF' (an exact copy) was built by the Ford Motor Co.
TBFs were manufactured by Grumman, TBMs by General Motors.
At maximum speed, you will burn your normal gas load in 1 and 9/10ths hours, but with extreme care, you can make it last 7 hours while carrying a scout load of 13,205 lbs.
Quite the difference!
Finished reading the book. it is an enjoyable, and exciting read thanks.
The Avenger was amazing. It could carry up to 1 ton (2,000lbs) of bombs, any combo of bombs as long as it didn't exceed 2,000 lbs. Essentially, it could carry; one 2,000 lb. bomb, two 1,000 lb. bombs, one 1,000 lb. bomb + two 500 lb. bombs, or four 500 lb. bombs. Absolutely amazing.
I love these WWII-era training films. Thanks!
In answer to your note, you're welcome. I'm reading A.J.P.Taylor's "The Origins Of The Second World War" right now, and though it's not what I'd call an enjoyable read, it's among the most enlightening I've read on WW II. It concerns the causes of the war in Europe, though it explains somewhat the events surrounding the Japanese invasion of Manchuria and other events in that area before the war.
Sweet, now I know how to steal an Avenger.
^.^
Yes, and a very good book to read.
RIP HW Bush. This was the bird he flew in with his brothers in arms most of whom didn't make it
Bush was a traitorous cowardly son of a bitch.
TBF & TBM are the same aircraft, it's just the TBF was built by Grumman and the TBM was built by General Motors
I was at a small airport when an avenger took off, thats was an airplane sounds like
Chi Chi jima was the island Bush was shot down while attacking; it was during Sept., 1944.
Bush was no hero. He got out but all of his crew died. No, I'm no liberal or democrat. I do speak the truth
He was a hero. You weren’t there.
@@johneasler9967 the pilot of an Avenger had no way to save or otherwise help his crew. They were on their own to get out. If they were injured, or damage prevented them from leaving the aircraft there was nothing that could be done to save them.
My Father was an Avenger pilot. The war ended before he finished tactical training.
This is great!
I'm a little surprised that in 1944 they were still using the terminology "Grumman TBF", since by then they were all TBMs built by Eastern Aircraft (General motors).
These are fascinating films, I"ve watched them all (thank you!). Any idea where this might have been filmed? I always try to recognize these fields but so far have not been able to do so.
I work at an aviation museum in NZ we have the same Avenger on display. Any chance you would allow us to license 1 minute or so of this awesome video? We are doing some educational content for kids. Museum is MOTAT in Auckland, NZ.
I never get over how complicated these ww2 planes are to fly. Airspeed in the Avenger never seems to be far above stall speed and the plane can go into a spin easily. All according to what I’m hearing here. Thats just flying. Then you have to deal with boost, which you need to fly high altitudes. Boost pressures have to be watched per altitude or god only knows what will happen. The pilot was the control system.
Thats from flyboys story of navy bombers attacking chichi jima
Due to it's large size, and ungainly appearance, it was nicknamed the "Turkey" by flight crews. I imagine trying to fly defensively in an aircraft that was restricted from performing "shenanigans" might have been difficult as well, adding another meaning to the nickname.
It was certainly an ungainly bugger.
I've little doubt it was the best carrier capable bomber of WW2. However, naval aircraft had so many inherent design compromises to make them carrier capable that their actual aerial performance relative to land based aircraft was very second rate. They were very specialized machines.
For that reason, I don't understand why the navy and marines insisted on flying carrier capable aircraft in the Pacific from land bases. Why fly a TBF Avenger from an island airstrip when non-navalised, twin or quad engine bombers were so much more capable?
back then how long did it take to build a wildcat fighter
Looks like even more of a handful than the P-47! But fun!
Beautiful. I love the 40s
Ok now I got to go fly one in IL2 1946
Christ! That sure is different from my Chevy! Can I go now?
What a machine..!
and other shenanigans, does that cover making a torpedo attack run?
chi chi jima, late summer 1944.
… always wondered what it took to fly an Avenger.
Great video of an amazeing aircraft ,but the most terifying thing is landing on aircraft carrier because unlike modern jet fighters ,this bird can overturn and damage itself and injure crew on her while she picks the lines on a deck of aircraft carrier!!!
Corret you are. The island, and its criminal commander were told of in the book "Fly Boys".
English and Metric units, together.
It is in the book fly boys right!
That is my faovureit american airplane
Does anyone know, why the temperatures are measured in C° instead of F°?
I don't believe there were any non-American license built versions of the Gruman Avenger.
I like the plane.. very afactive 🤘
How can anyone remember to do all this stuff ?
That's why you have the checklist with you ;-). As you gain experience with the aircraft, all this stuff gets to be second nature. Plus, once a pilot got checked out in the TBF, he'd had a lot of flying time already; many of these procedures were common to all piston-engine aircraft.
Hi Farmer Dave, actually, you have to remember a lot more (nowadays). When I was in flight training (US Navy), I had never had to study that much in my entire life. By the time you got to your final airplane at the "RAG" (Replacement Air Group), one almost had over 350 hrs of flight training plus you had to know the aircraft systems by heart. Flying "Navy" was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Ciao, L
@@lancelot1953 I have the utmost respect for Naval Aviators--you guys are the best pilots around! Not many folks would relish the idea of operating from a carrier in all kinds of weather. What aircraft did you fly in the Navy?
the plane in the picture is a Helldiver
Steve Boros
Sorry your wrong that is a TBM avenger early version. My pop flew in one during WW-2
how did they do it.
Why was this plane so very underpowered?...or was that engine the best available?..
"41" flew an Avenger in WWII.
JAJAJAJ OMG SINCE 1944 US NAVY HAVES A BULLETS FACTORY LIKE A TORTILLAS MACHINE
What's the original NARA title/number for this video?
I don’t know if they have a copy. You can look it up in their catalog.Their collection is random. Back in the day, there wasn’t an organized effort to preserve these films. Many were thrown out as “obsolete.”
Faz um vídeo com o BTD-1
This is the plane that 20 year old George Bush Sr. flew in WWII.
Why did the ground crew start the engine for the pilot? Why didn't he do it?
just saving battery power since he was on land.
How would the ground crew starting the engine save battery power? How does being on land affect anything?
In my modest opinion I saw that it is a navy practice often done on the carriers as seen on documentaries. Perhaps it is to both warm up the engine for the pilot and to check out if everything is working and perhaps to speed up the the take off but I am an armchair non flyer!! Seriously I only saw this practice with the navy and more rarely with the air Force ...
@@paoloviti6156 Also to lessen the amount of time that a pilot would spend in the cockpit. This was done by the Army Air Corps as well.
Avengers... Assemble! 😜😄
In "cold weather?" In the South Pacific?
These aircraft were operated as far North as the Aleutions, where it gets very cold indeed.
Plus, once you reach an altitude of about 20,000 feet or above, it gets pretty cold, even in the South Pacific!
The avenger was a great anti-submarine aircraft, it was a mediocre torpedo bomber at best.
The aircraft was overweight and burdened with unnecessary features
Ok, now that i know how to fly an Avenger...
...i need to find one for free
You're an idiot!
1:21)The deck crewman is cranking the engine wrong. A backfire and he would have fractured or broken thumbs.
He's just revving up the inertia starter to lessen the load on the battery. The inertia starter won't backfire, it just a heavy flywheel brought up to speed and then a clutch is engaged so the motor spins.
🙄
Avoid stunts and shenanigans? No way!
Everyones dad was a pilot in the comments 😆
Avoid all stunts and other such shenanigans.
allowing me to be a good friend to my family and I love you and I love him and I love you and e I love you and
Vv
kjbh
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