1/72 Grumman TBF-1 Avenger8-T-1 VT-8 NAS Norfolk May 1942

The Aircraft

In early 1942 Avengers began to arrive at NAS Norfolk, Virginia and assigned to VT-8. This made the squadron the first front-line unit to be equipped with the TBF-1 Avenger. The first to arrive was 8-T-1 BuNo 00380 wearing the inter-war red tail stripes and circle within the star insignia. Six VT-8 Avengers were sent to Pearl Harbor and on to Midway arriving just before the Battle of Midway. During this battle the 6 TBF-1s from VT-8 flew against the Japanese forces and 8-T-1 was the only Avenger to survive the encounter.

• Dimensions
• Length: 40' 11.5"
• Height: 16' 9"
• Wingspan: 54' 2"
• Weight:
• Max weight: 17,364 lbs
• Empty weight: 10,500 lbs
• Engine & Power: 1 X Wright R-2600-20 @1900 hp
• Power: 1700 HP at sea level
• Performance
• Stall Speed: Stall Speed: 77 mph IAS
• Max Speed: 249 mph
• Celling: 21,400 ft
• Rate of climb: 1,400 fpm at sea level
• Range: 1,100 miles
• Armament
• 2 X .50 cal machine guns in turret
• 2 X .50 cal machine guns in wing
• 1 X .30 gun in tail
• Various bombs or torpedo