TBF/TBM Avenger (multiple)

I photographed these TBF Avenger dive bomber examples in Oregon, Washington, Arizona, South Carolina, California, Montana, Texas and Louisiana.

It turns out I saw the same Avenger in Houston that I had earlier seen in Madras, Oregon, now wearing the markings of George Bush’s plane “Barbara III”


1945 TBM-3E Avenger #53575 “Barbara III”

Lone Star Flight Museum, Houston 2024

Erickson Collection in Madras, Ore. 2017

Apparently this Avenger was visiting the Erickson Collection in Madras before getting a paint update and name.


TBM-3 #53785 “Barbara III”

Another Avenger in slightly different markings of George Bush’s “Barbara III”

Palm Springs 2018


TBM-3E #85849

Some thought that this was TBF-1C 47887 (possibly)

Erickson Collection Madras 2017

Erickson Collection; Madras 2023


TBM-3E #85882

Paine Field 2016

Flying Heritage Collection 2017

HFF, Paine Field 2017

Arlington Airport 2018

HFF, Paine Field 2019




TBM-3 #69472

Pima Air Museum 2017


TBM-3 #53842

Patriots Point 2013


TBM-3E #91264

Planes of Fame, Chino 2018


TBF-1 #05997

Yanks Air Museum, Chino 2018


Grumman TBM-3E Avenger #53200

Missoula, Mont. 2021

Missoula, Mont. 2022


TBM-3 #69374

National WWII Museum, New Orleans 2024


TBM-3E 53593

Naval Aviation Museum, NAS Pensacola 2024


TBM-3E 91188

Castle AFB Restoration Hangar, Atwater CA 2024