グラマンTBFで知られているが、F6Fへルキャットの生産に迫われていたグラマン社からGM社に生産が移行きれると呼称もTBMに変わっている。

　爆弾倉に魚雷を積み込めたので、あきれるほど胴体が太く、直径が1.4mもあるエンジンとカウリングの外に無造作にとび出した排気筒など、粗削りの設計が目につく。まるで身重の農耕馬のようだ。同時期に中島が設計した艦攻「天山」と比較すると飛行性能は劣ったが、防弾、防御火器、安全艤装に優れ、実用性は抜群だった。

　「イギリス人の質実剛健さがまるでノー天気になったような、頑丈で力があればよいというアメリカ人気質を感じますね」。こんな小池さんの感想がぴったりくる。

　作品の機体は爆弾倉を開いて魚雷を投下する寸前らしい。「戦闘中の絵は書きたくない」という小池さんらしく、対空砲火が海面に水しぶきを上げるでもなく、鏡のように穏やかな海を飛んでいる。

　

TBM AVENGER

Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation had never built an offensive aircraft before designing the replacement for the TBF-1 Avenger. TheXTBF-1, which first flew in August 1940, was a sound machine with a tough airframe, wings with skewed hinges that allowed them to fold alongside the fuselage, an internal bay for torpedo or other ordnance,plenty of fuel, and a powered dorsal turret.
Eastern Aircraft was awarded a successive contact, delivering nearly identical models known as TBM in March 1942. Most of the Avengers produced were Eastern's TBM-3 model, noted for it powerful R-2600 engine,strengthened wings for increased gross weights, and reinforcement for carrying a radar scanner or rockets.
During the wal Eastern developed numerous, special-purpose TBM versions, used for photo-reconnaissance, transport, or night reconnaissane with early-warning equipment installed.
Other significant models were the 3E, which was the first specialized antisubmarine warfare aircraft to carry modern sensors and to operate from a carrier, and the 3W, which was the first aircraft to carry an earlywarning radar in service.