Hobby Master 1/72 Grumman TBF-1 Vt-8 June 1942 Battle of Midway Aircraft Model (HA1214)

Hobby Master 1/72 Grumman TBF-1 Vt-8 June 1942 Battle of Midway Aircraft Model (HA1214) | Antics Online

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Hobby Master 1/72 Grumman TBF-1 Vt-8 June 1942 Battle of Midway Aircraft Model (HA1214)
Grumman TBF-1 Avenger VT-8 (The Flying Eights) June 1942 "Battle of Midway" This was the only Avenger to survive this battle. Die-cast metal. Superb detailing in 1/72 scale. Pre-painted with pad applied markings. Fully assembled. Weapons are not permanently attached. Display stand included. Option to display model with wheels up or down. Minimum use of plastic. Very collectable.

Just prior to the start of WW II the USN started to look for a replacement for their aging Douglas Devastator. Grumman made a presentation of a prototype labeled as XTBF-1 that impressed the USN and they placed an order to purchase. The plane was perfect for the Navy needs, a huge rotary engine that was enclosed in a barrel like fuselage to cut down on drag, and with some increase in the fuselage and wing lengths would accommodate a three-man crew. Production on what was now officially known as the TBF Avenger and would come to receive the affectionate name of “The Turkey” from the pilots that flew them began in 1941 with first delivery just in time for the Battle of Midway in June 1942. What started out as a carrier borne torpedo bomber soon turned into a close-support bomber, a patrol aircraft and even a trainer. Because of Grumman’s commitments to produce other aircraft and the fact that this plane was so well liked and in such demand they had to contract the work out to General Motors. Grumman continued to make the Avenger until December 1943. The Grumman plane was designated the TBF and the General Motors plane was the TBM. Of the 9,836 planes manufactured, GM made 7,546 of them. VT-8 Torpedo Squadron 8 was a USN squadron assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Hornet. The squadron joined the ship shortly after the ships commissioning in October 1941. VT-8s first and best-known combat mission came during the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. As part of the U.S. plan to counter the Japanese attack on Midway Island and deliver a death blow to the Japanese Fleet the USS Hornet launched 15 Douglas TBD Devastators and all but one was shot down without doing any damage to the Japanese carriers. VT-8 was the first squadron to receive the new Grumman TBF-1 Avenger, a bigger, faster, longer-ranged replacement for the TBD. On June 4, 1942 six of VT-8s new Grumman Avengers were on Midway and along with other aircraft located there launched prior to the Japanese assault. Of the six TBF-1s launched only one survived. The one aircraft was 8-T-1 (Bureau # 00380) piloted by Ensign Albert K. Earnest with Radioman 3/c Harry Ferrier who both survived the ordeal. Seaman 1/c Jay D. Manning was operating the .50 caliber machine gun and was killed in action by Japanese fighters. The aircraft was so badly damaged that it was considered beyond repair. At the end of the day VT-8 was virtually eliminated. It wasn’t long though before VT-8 received new pilots and was fully equipped with the new TBF-1s. They went on to fight during the Battle of Guadalcanal and through the Solomon’s campaign

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