A pictorial history of the Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors), an American torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval aviation services around the world. The Avenger entered U.S. service in 1942, and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Despite the loss of five of the six Avengers on its combat debut, it survived in service to become the most effective and widely-used torpedo bomber of World War II. Greatly modified after the war, it remained in use until the 1960s. Illustrated with 190 B&W and color photographs and illustrations.