WOW456 FAA Avenger

Description

The Grumman Avenger was a Naval and Marine torpedo bomber developed by Grumman, first entering service in  1942. Whilst the Douglas Devastator had been the main torpedo bomber for the US Navy in the 1930’s, the Navy decided it needed a more potent bomber with a greater range and larger payload.
By late 1941 Grumman had developed the Avenger into a production type and unveiled it to the public on December 7th 1941, the same day the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour.
The Avenger carried a crew of three, had a revolving rear gunners turret and folding wings to facilitate ease of storage aboard carriers. The Avenger first saw combat at Midway and although it did not fare well initially, went onto become one of the most potent torpedo bombers of WW2. It was also supplied to several other air forces around the world, with production reaching 9800 units in total.

Avenger’s were used in Britain by the Fleet Air Arm as torpedo bomber, bomber, anti-submarine and airborne early warning variants. 3 aircraft were also modified to carry the ‘Highball’ bouncing bomb, although this was not a successful exercise. The Avenger replaced the Swordfish and Albacore, as was without doubt a superior aircraft, equipping some 17 frontline squadrons by the end of the war.

Possibly it’s most unlikely success was the destruction of a V1 flying bomb in July 1944 when the dorsal air gunner shot one down at a range of 700 yards as the missile was overtaking them on its way to the UK.
The Avenger was the heaviest single engined WWII aircraft and pilots reported that it ‘flew like a truck’, but its docile handling characteristics were ideal for many of its roles.

Especially active in the Pacific where it took part in Operation Meridian at Palembang and many other sorties. On 24 July an Avenger from No.848 Squadron became the first British aircraft to bomb Japan. The fleet took part in the attacks on shipping, naval bases and airfields. The first period of operations began on 17^th July and lasted for 25 days, although bad weather limited operations to only eight of sorties. Operations were interrupted by the atomic bombs of 6^th  August and 9^th August, although TF 37 raided Honshu on 9^th August. By this point the British fleet was running desperately short of supplies, and so Task Force 38.5 was formed around Indefatigable and the battleship King George V. The fleet’s final operations came on 15^th August 1945, and involved a force of Avengers and Seafires.

After the end of the war the Avenger rapidly left British service. Under the terms of the Lend Lease agreement the British had either to return items to the US or pay for them. The Avengers weren’t wanted by either side, and so many of them were simply dumped at sea. No.848 Squadron was the last unit disbanded on 3^rd June 1946.
Avengers were used widely in the European theatre, used in coastal operations, including D-Day and scheduled attacks on the Tirpitz.

Our 1/32 scale hand carved mahogany aircraft is one flown by 855 Sqn, RN FAA, Hawkinge in June 1944 and comes complete with D-Day stripes.
.
Limited to 4 available worldwide, this aircraft is priced at $999 plus postage. Please note this model is still en route to us via sea shipment and will be here early June.The K&C figures, TG/JJD accessories are all shown for scale comparison purposes only and are not included.