Premier Naval Attack Aircraft
A World War II TBM-3E Avenger and the Blue Angels wait their turns to fly at the 2025 Thunder Over Michigan Airshow. Both aircraft types were premier naval attack aircraft of their time.
I believe the gentleman in the flight suit is Brad Deckert, pilot and co-owner of the Avenger. From March to September of 1945 the Avenger was assigned to the Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 234 (VMTB 234), flew off the U.S.S. Vella Gulf, and conducted strikes on the islands of Pagan and Rota in the Marianas and on Okinawa. After the war, it was converted to a fire bomber in Canada and then later restored.
Premier Naval Attack Aircraft
A World War II TBM-3E Avenger and the Blue Angels wait their turns to fly at the 2025 Thunder Over Michigan Airshow. Both aircraft types were premier naval attack aircraft of their time.
I believe the gentleman in the flight suit is Brad Deckert, pilot and co-owner of the Avenger. From March to September of 1945 the Avenger was assigned to the Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 234 (VMTB 234), flew off the U.S.S. Vella Gulf, and conducted strikes on the islands of Pagan and Rota in the Marianas and on Okinawa. After the war, it was converted to a fire bomber in Canada and then later restored.