WOW306 Grumman Avenger ‘George Bush’

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.

This particular model was flown by perhaps the most famous man to fly an Avenger in WWII, the late former President of the United States George H.W. Bush.

Bush was born in Milton, Massachusetts on the 12th of June 1924 to Prescott and Dorothy Bush. He was raised in an affluent family that found fortune in the oil business. At 18 he rebelled against his parents and enlisted in the navy during world war II and become the youngest Navy pilot at the time flying  thousands of combat hours in the Avenger. Bush flew his first combat mission in May 1944, bombing Japanese-held Wake Island, and was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade) on August 1, 1944. During an attack on a Japanese installation in Chichijima, Bush’s aircraft successfully attacked several targets, but was downed by enemy fire. Though both of Bush’s fellow crew members died, Bush successfully bailed out from the aircraft and was rescued by the USS Finback. Several of the aviators shot down during the attack were captured and executed.
Bush’s near-death experience shaped him profoundly, leading him to ask, “Why had I been spared and what did God have for me? He was later awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role in the mission.
This avenger has the markings of Lt. George Bush and his wife Barbara’s name painted on the sides. This Warbird is priced at $950 plus postage of $150, free shipping does not apply to Warbirds due to their large size.