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Dates |
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Event |
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Constructed as a TBM-3E by General Motors. |
June 1945 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 53503. |
June 1945 |
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Transferred to Torpedo Squadron 17 (VT-17, Fish Hawks), USS Leyte (CV-32). |
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Converted to a TBM-3S by General Motors. |
1947 |
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Transferred to VT-82 Devils Advocates. |
30 June 1950 |
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Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Canadian Navy with s/n 53503 as a Avenger III and operated with these markings: 315. |
Circa 1952 |
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Converted to an Avenger AS.3 by Fairey Aviation at Canada. |
From 1952 to 1958 |
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Flew ASW missions from HMS Magnificent. |
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Markings Applied: AB-P |
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Photographer: DND CT 825
Notes: Canadian Forces Photo from my collection. RCN Avenger 53503 ABP |
15 June 1953 |
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Led a formation flight over Queen Elizabeths 1953 Coronation Review of the Fleet. |
1 January 1958 |
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Struck off Strength/Charge from the Royal Canadian Navy. |
From 1963 to 1970 |
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To Simsbury Flying Service, Simsbury CT with new c/r N6583D.
Used for aerial application. |
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Photographer: San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive |
From 1970 to 1972 |
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To Joe E. Jones/Confederate Air Force, Harlingen, TX keeping c/r N6583D. |
13 January 1972 |
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To Robert L. Wick/CAF, Harlingen, TX with new c/r N53505. |
24 July 1976 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Dayton, OH |
1977 |
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Appeared in the movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind. |
23 June 1978 |
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Photographer: Brian Baker
Notes: Photographed at Harlingen, TX. |
6 October 1978 |
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Photographer: Peter Nicholson
Notes: TBM-3E Avenger of the Confederate Air Force in action at their 1978 Airshow at Harlingen, Texas. |
Circa 1980 |
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Photographer: Dick Phillips Warbird Images Col.
Notes: Photographed at Falcon Field. |
From 1981 to 1984 |
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Sat outside in Mesa AZ awaiting repair/restoration. |
1985 |
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Ferry flight.
Ferried to Grand Junction, CO. |
From 1985 to 1989 |
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Restored.
Markings Applied: 309
Restored as TBM 53503, painted in VT-84 Wolf Gang livery to honor those who served onAathe USS Bunker Hill during the Battle of the Japan Sea in 1945. |
6 September 1991 |
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To American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Midland, TX with new c/r N53503. |
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In the inventory of Commemorative Air Force Airpower Museum, Midland International Airport (MAF), Midland, TX.
 View the Location Dossier |
April 1996 |
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Photographer: Tom Tessier
Notes: At MCAS El Toro, CA Open House |
2 June 1999 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NL53503 (TBM-3E, 53503) issued. |
1 January 2002 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NL53503 (TBM-3E, 53503) issued. |
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Based at Commemorative Air Force-Rocky Mountain Wing, Walker Field, Grand Junction, CO.
View the Location Dossier |
9 October 2010 |
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Photographer: Kevin Bailey
Notes: CAF Airsho 2010 |
9 October 2010 |
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Photographer: Kevin Bailey
Notes: CAF Airsho 2010 |
24 August 2011 |
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Certificate of airworthiness for NL53503 (TBM-3E, 53503) issued. |
17 March 2014 |
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Crashed.
The accident occurred at the Glendale Municpal Airport (GEU) Glendale, AZ, United States while taxiing. The damage was substantial. The pilot reported that after landing and during the turn onto a taxiway intersection, he inadvertently raised the landing gear lever by mistake, rather than the adjacent flap lever. The left landing gear collapsed, which caused the left wing tip to strike the ground. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the left wing...
For a complete description of the event read the NTSB Report. |
24 August 2015 |
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To American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Dallas, TX keeping c/r N53503. |
18 May 2024 |
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Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Peru, IL during the annual TBM Avenger Reunion. |
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 | | This airframe dossier is based on
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