World War II Database

1. Laura says:
15 Nov 2007 07:26:44 PM

I read somewhere that the Avenger was very unstable and would roll upside down if the pilot left the controls. Anyone know if that is true?

2.  David Stubblebine says:
9 May 2008 12:43:37 AM

Reply to Laura: My Dad flew TBM's in 1944-1945 and I've never heard this. The Avenger had something of a learning curve, to be sure (i.e., Battle of Midway), but most pilots loved the flight characteristics. Within the air groups, TBM pilots had the responsibility for navigation for the entire strike, requiring pilots to have their heads in their charts several miniutes at a time several times during the strike - this requires a fairly stable aerodynamic platform.

3.  Bill says:
25 Mar 2010 05:46:24 PM

Info on above photo:
TBF's in formation over Guadalcanal summer
1942.

4.  Bill says:
25 Mar 2010 05:56:45 PM

The Avenger's production record during its
production run. 3/4th of all aircraft were
built by General Motors. In June, 1942, 60
were built per month by Grumman.
By the summer of 1943, GM was building 100
aircraft per month, later increased to 215
per month. Eventually building 400 per month
in 1945.
Grumman built 2,291 TBF's, GM built 7,546 TBM's

5. AirforceBrat says:
2 Nov 2012 11:40:15 AM

Single radial engine'd aircraft, if trimmed properly in flight, do not roll if the pilot let go of the control column. Because of the massive torque created by its radial engine, yes, if left un-trimmed, it would would tend to roll slightly but I doubt it would do a complete roll onto its back. But to state that if the pilot let go of the controls that it would roll onto its back is Bovine Scatterings. There's a webpage that's been open since 1997 where some alleged US veteran makes this claim because he hates G. Bush 41 (G. Bush Sr.) and claims Bush jumped out of his plane when the other crewmen were left to die what he claims was a flyable aircraft. The stupidity of this claim is that a gunner in another Avenger claims that Bush parachuted with a flyable aircraft... soooo when Bush flew 45+ combat missions, why would he choose that moment to jump? Also, when in combat, how could the gunner in the other aircraft have time to stare into Bush's plane's cockpit to see what was going on? Its amazing how this guy's bogus claims have made the Avenger out to be an unstable aircraft.
Amazing how far a lie can damage all those it touches.