Warbird Information Exchange

The Olympic Flight Museum bid a fond farewell to its TBM-3E Bu.No. 69325 yesterday.

N325GT made the short flight to to its new home at Boeing Field yesterday afternoon. The aircraft is now registered to 45 AVENGER LLC. I was told the name of the new owner on a few occasions but can't recall the name right now.

Rumor has it, the plan is to re-install a turret and restore the combat veteran to wartime configuration.




No one ever did get around to removing your name Brad.


Crew Chief Emile Summers and WIX member Gary Wagner pull the prop through prior to the flight.


Proof that Gary actually will touch a round motor.


Crew Chief Emile Summers and Bud Granley. One last shot for old times.







I sure am going to miss this greasy old beast.
At least it will still be in the neighborhood and hopefully it will get a good restoration like it deserves.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Sorry that you're losing your "friend", but remember, TBM's deserve turrets!
I hope it all works out.

Rich

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

That should be a bumper sticker Rick, TBM's deserve turrets. Ha Ha That does suck when an aircraft that you really love is sold and moves. I went through that time and time again working at Air Heritage.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I love that first smoky shot!

Glad to see it's not going too far (actually closer to me )

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-Al Sauer
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spookythecat

I heard from Brad or Brian (I don't recall which) who said thsat it was still going to be based at the museum

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Don't touch my junk!!

I helped emil only because he is vertically challenged pulling props through on the big greasy beast....
Gary

That is a cool TBM, I am sure you all had a ton of fun with it.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

I remember when Jack Rogers obtained it from Syracuse Flying service back in the late 1980's after being used as a sprayer.
I spent a few hours flying around in her. Like flying in a bus. It's great to see her going to someone who will fly her again. It didn't come with a turret or Jack would have put it back in.
I didn't know it was a combat vet.

Steve

Oh do tell, Steve! Don't leave us hangin' What's her combat history?

Thanks...

--Tom

I said "I didn't know it WAS a combat vet."

Curtis Block quote;

"Rumor has it, the plan is to re-install a turret and restore the combat veteran to wartime configuration."

I know of NO combat time on it. I would like to hear the story also.

Steve

It would be more cool to paint it in Korean War marking has one of the TBM CODs that evaced 100s of wounded servicemen under fire from the Pusan Perimeter

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Don't touch my junk!!

It does have combat time. atleast 3 missions in July 1945. Bombed Tokyo twice and attacked a ship named Haunara.

The aircraft was assigned to the USS Bataan, with Torpedo Squadron 47 and 49.

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Curtis Block

I've seen too many airplanes destroyed by the term "Static Restoration."

Very cool to hear of her history; thanks!

--Tom

While hunting for some other airplane stuff for the previous owner, I came across the following information from the planes records:

AIRCRAFT HISTORY OF TBM-3U
CIVIL REGISTRY: N325GT
Navy Bureau of Aeronautics Number (BuNo): 69325
This aircraft saw combat in the Pacific Theater of Operations during WWII

Built under contract number: NOa(s) 228, Mfr’s serial no.: 2064 of TBM-3E
2FEB45: Accepted U.S. NAVY
11FEB45: Delivered to U.S. NAVY
FEB45: Minimal repair, San Diego
MAR45: ENST Guam
APR-MAY45: CASU (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit) F 12
JUN 45: VC-97 (Fleet Composite Squadron 97)
4JUL45: Pool CASU F 12
13JUL45 U.S.S. HOLLANDIA (CVE-97) (Casablanca class escort carrier)
26JUL45: U.S.S. BATAAN (CVL-29) (Independence lass light carrier)
JUL45: VT-4 (Torpedo Squadron 47) U.S.S. Bataan (Air Wing 47: VF-47 (23 F6Fs & VT-47 12 TBMs) off Japanese Islands with Task Group 58.3*
AUG-OCT45: VT-49 (Torpedo Squadron 49) aboard U.S.S. Bataan off Japan. The U.S.S. Bataan entered Sagami Bay, an arm of Tokyo Bay, on 27UAG45 as part of the occupation force.

NOV45-JAN46: Pool CASU 22
FEB-MAR46: VT-82 (Torpedo Squadron 82)
APR46: Pool CASU 22
JUN46 Awaiting reconditioning, Norfolk NAS
JUL-SEP46: Under reconditioning, Norfolk NAS
OCT46-APR47: Pool Norfolk
May47-AUG48: VT-6 (Training Squadron 6)
SEP47: VT-6 Saufley Field, Florida
OCT47: VT-4 Saufley Field, Florida
NOV-DEC47: Pool AFU JAN (Unknown designation)
JAN-AUG48: Pool Norfolk
2MAR49: Overhaul (this is probably when the aircraft was converted to a -3U, utility, configuration.
MAY-NOV50: VU-7 (Utility Squadron 7) NAS Miramar, California
8FEB51-18DEC51: Overhaul & Repair BuAer Material & Services Group, San Diego
27DEC51-FEB53: VU-7 Ream Field, California (near San Diego)
10JUN53-21JUL53: O&R BuAer M&S San Diego
18AUG53-FEB55: O&R BuAer M&S Norfolk
7OCT55: Accident or retirement (per stamped-on checklist on form)
31AUG55-29FEB56: O&R BuAer M&S Norfolk
JUL56: Stricken from inventory
31JUL56: OPNAV X
1956-1961: U.S. Forestry Service as N104Z. Only 8 TBMs were owned by the USFS.
1963-1966: Aero Insect Control, Rio Grande, NJ. N1044
JUNE 1969-1970: Maritime Air Service Ltd, Monkton, Ontario as CF-XOM
1979: Hicks & Lawrence Ltd, St. Thomas, Ontario (Tanker #18 )
OCT85-1988: Syracuse Flying Service, Syracuse, KS as N325GT
1989: Purchased by Stallion Aircraft Inc, Bensenville, IL

NOTE: All dates prior to 1AUG56 are taken from Navy inventory records and do not necessarily reflect the actual dates of transfer.

As of 11MAR46, the VT designation was given to Training squadrons versus Torpedo squadrons.

As of 22JUL48, the VT designation was given to basic and fleet trainer squadrons.

*Task Group 58.3 (part of Task Force 58, Fast carrier group) consisted of the carriers: CV-9 Essex, CV-17 Bunker Hill, CV19 Hancock, CVL-28 Cabot and CVL-29 Bataan. Total of 368 aircraft assigned to Task Group. 28JUL45, Allied carrier planes struck at Kure again. The battleships Haruna, Huyga and Ise and cruisers Aoba, Tone and Oyodo were sunk. Extensive damage was also done to merchant shipping and to vital shore installations, particularly railroad facilities. Strong air opposition was encountered, but 21 Japanese planes were knocked out of the air and 123 destroyed on the ground, while only 36 U.S. planes were lost.

30JUL45: Allied carrier planes lashed at Tokyo and battleships shelled Hamamatsu. U.S. planes destroyed 121 enemy craft and inflicted heavy damage on light Japanese fleet units in the region.

13AUG45. allied carrier planes raided Tokyo.

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Brad