04/30/2011. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "The TBM-3 three-seat torpedo-bomber was built by the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors Corporation, which took over from Grumman the entire production of the Avenger in 1942. Four XTBM-3 prototypes were built, converted from TBM-1Cs, followed by 4,011 TBM-3s and 646 TBM-3Es. The latter version was fitted with a special anti-submarine detection radar which made the TBM-3E of particular value to the USN in the early post-war years, and it became the principal operational version of the Avenger after 1945.

Many TBM-3s and TBM-3Es were completely rebuilt in USN establishments into respectively TBM-3S (Strike) and TBM-3W (Search) aircraft for anti-submarine duties. The TBM-3S had the rear turret removed while the TBM-3W carried the large APS-20 radar in a ventral radome and had extra fins added to the tail plane to compensate the radome area. Later these aircraft had their avionics upgraded and were redesignated TBM-3S2 and TBM-3W2 respectively. These "Hunter/Killer" aircraft operated in pairs and remained in service with the USN until June 1954.

A number of these aircraft were transferred to the Dutch navy. The pictured TBM-3S2 s/n 1-12 was ex-BuNo 85852 and was taken on charge on February 15, 1954, it crashed into the sea from HMS Karel Doorman on August 29, 1959. The TBM-3W2 s/n 16-114 was ex-BuNo 91385 and was taken on charge on September 29, 1953. It was withdrawn from use on November 14, 1960, and subsequently scrapped at NAS De Kooy, Den Helder, the Netherlands.

The aircraft are pictured while preparing for take off from the carrier off the US coast. All TBMs aboard were flown to NAS Mayport near Jacksonville, Florida, as the carrier's deck was needed for trials by S2Fs from USN squadron VS-30."

Read also the Avenger remarks on page 12451.