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GM Avenger When you think torpedo bomber, I bet General Motors isn't even a blip on your radar. But, they had a hand in building of one of the World War II's meanest most accurate aircraft, the TBM Avenger. At Wars' end, Avengers had sunk nearly 60 enemy ships, including the world's biggest battleship. But, after one proud aviator's plane fell from the sky, he made it his mission to find and preserve one in its honor, and our own Craig Singhaus takes us on the journey of its fate above the High Road. – John Davis
One particular TBM was of great personal interest to this man, Mr. Jack Kosko. You see Jack flew on TBMs during World War II and while he's much too modest to mention it he was a highly decorated naval aviator.
Life went on for over a half century but Jack never forgot that airplane or all his buddies on the USS Langley. And just as the twentieth century became the twenty-first, like and old friend from the past a much used and abused TBM Avenger became available to be restored.
Which is fitting because TBMs were great flying machines. With its 1,900 horsepower radial engine TBMs were capable of 300 miles-per-hour, and they often carried over 2,000 pounds of bombs, torpedoes or rockets. Now this is one General Motors vehicle that could really deliver a knockout punch.
This TBM avenger survives today as a tribute to the tenacity, bravery and "can do" spirit of the World War II generation. And it's that same spirit that keeps this remarkable piece of history alive and flying today.
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With the United States entry into World War II, America's automotive industry became part of the arsenal of democracy. At General Motors, one of their greatest contributions to the war effort was the production of the TBM Avenger torpedo bomber. Originally deigned by Grumman Aircraft, most Avengers were actually assembled by the Eastern Aircraft division of General Motors.
JACK KOSKO, WWII NAVY VETERAN: I got assigned to a torpedo squadron. Well I thought I'd died and went to heaven. So from there my love of the airplane just kept going on. It took me out there and brought me back, except we crashed one time on the barriers on the Langley, but we survived, the airplane was pushed overboard. I got a few pieces of memorabilia and life went on.
KOSKO: It had no turret. I said where's the rest of the airplane? So we finally did purchase it and started to take it apart. And by that time the word got out because I'm a member of the Glenn L. Martin Air Museum, and here comes the volunteers. Just about everyone was ex-military, Air Force and or Navy and or members that used to work at the Martin's plant. So we all had the common desire. And over a period of 6-1/2 years, over 25,000 man hours we put it back together - and only to be a flying airplane, no static display.
Today the restored TBM is lovingly cared for at its permanent home, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Pennsylvania. Each year at the museums annual World War II weekend the restored TBM attracts hundreds of visitors that come to see a real piece of history, and hear its story from one who was there.
KOSKO: This is where I sat. Plenty of room, all kinds of room back here. And all my radio gear is up on that shelf, that's an original transmitter here that I was able to get my hands on.