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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Grumman TBF / TBM Avenger
    Latest Model:Avenger AS.3M
    Last Military Serial:91426 RCN
    Construction Number:4331
    Last Civil Registration:N40402
    Latest Owner or Location:American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Dallas, TX

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a TBM-3E by General Motors.

    From 3 August 1945 to January 1946

    Transferred to USMC Aircraft Replacement Pool, San Diego, CA.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 91426.

    August 1952

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Canadian Navy with s/n 91426 as a Avenger AS.3M.

    Transferred to VC 920.
    Operated with markings: 908

    5 July 1960

    Struck off Strength/Charge from the Royal Canadian Navy.

    From 1960 to 1970

    To Skyway Air Services, Langley, BC with new c/r CF-MUE.

    Operated as fire service #618.

    Operated as fire service #18.

    From 1970 to 1977

    To Conair Aviation, Abbotsford, BC keeping c/r CF-MUE.

    By 27 June 1970

    Operated as fire service #618.

    27 June 1970


    Photographer: Tim Martin
    Notes: 1970 photo at Winnipeg - in service with Conair of Abbotsford/BC, this Grumman Avenger spray-plane is here, in company with several stable-mates, en route to PEI for the the annual potatoe fly eradication program

    From August 1977 to 2001

    To Forest Protection Services, Frederickton, NB keeping c/r CF-MUE.
    Markings added: 618 / 18

    Operated as fire service #618.

    July 1988


    Photographer: Eric Bannwarth
    Notes: CF-MUE - TBM-3 Avenger - Forest Protection at Fredericton in July 1988

    By 24 July 1991

    Operated as fire service #18.

    24 July 1991


    Photographer: Tim Martin
    Notes: 1991 photo at Fredericton NB. - One of several WWII Grumman Avenger torpedo planes converted for spraying and used by Forest Protection Ltd. As they get replaced by Air Tractors, they are eagerly snapped up by warbird collectors. This one went south in 2001

    From 1994 to 2000

    Withdrawn from use.
    Inactive - stored.

    18 April 2001

    To American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Midland, TX with new c/r N40402.

    Operated by Commemorative Air Force Airpower Museum, Midland International Airport (MAF), Midland, TX.
    View the Location Dossier

    To Commemorative Air Force, Midland, TX.

    Based at Frederick Municipal Airport, Frederick, MD.
    View the Location Dossier

    Based at Commemorative Air Force-Capital Wing, Culpeper County Airport, Remington, VA.
    View the Location Dossier

    Restoration completed.
    The work was carried out at Jack Koskoas facility in Fawn Grove, PA.

    Markings Applied: 95
    It is in the markings of VMTB-143, which flew off the USS Gilbert Islands in the summer of 1945.

    18 April 2014

    Certificate of airworthiness for NX40402 (TBM-3, 91426) issued.

    18 April 2014

    First post-restoration Flight.

    27 May 2014

    Certificate of airworthiness for NL40402 (TBM-3, 91426) issued.

    24 August 2015

    To American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Dallas, TX keeping c/r N40402.

    By 10 October 2015

    Markings Applied: DORIS MAY, P87

    10 October 2015


    Photographer: Robert Abbott
    Notes: Took these photos at the 2015 Culpeper Airfest at Culpeper airport in Brandy Station Virginia. Plane is owned and operated by the National Capitol Squadron CAF based at the Culpeper County Airport.

    10 October 2015


    Photographer: Robert Abbott
    Notes: Took these photos at the 2015 Culpeper Airfest at Culpeper airport in Brandy Station Virginia. Plane is owned and operated by the National Capitol Squadron CAF based at the Culpeper County Airport.

    10 October 2015


    Photographer: Robert Abbott
    Notes: Took these photos at the 2015 Culpeper Airfest at Culpeper airport in Brandy Station Virginia. Plane is owned and operated by the National Capitol Squadron CAF based at the Culpeper County Airport.

    10 October 2015


    Photographer: Robert Abbott
    Notes: Took these photos at the 2015 Culpeper Airfest at Culpeper airport in Brandy Station Virginia. Plane is owned and operated by the National Capitol Squadron CAF based at the Culpeper County Airport.

    27 April 2018


    Photographer: Owen ORourke
    Notes: At Joint Base Charleston (KCHS)

    14 May 2021


    Photographer: Mike Fuller
    Notes: At Illinois Valley Regional Airport/KVYS

    15 May 2021


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At the Illinois Valley Regional Airport, Peru, IL

    15 May 2021


    Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
    Notes: At the Illinois Valley Regional Airport, Peru, IL


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Print Sources
    U.S. Military Out of Service 2010 by Andy Marden

    Internet Sources
    Aerial Visuals - The Locator by Mike Henniger, Senior Editor
    Aerodata Quantum+
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America
    TBM Avengers and Forest Protection Limited

    Individual Contributors
    John Bennett
    Bill Douglas
    Terry Fletcher
    Mike Henniger

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