Inside The Cockpit - TBF/M Avenger

Let's check out a perfectly restored American World War 2 Torpedo Bomber, the TBF/M Avenger!
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Big thank you to AMPA and Elliot for inviting me:
www.ampa.ch/site2/
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#insidethecockpit #militaryaviationhistory #avenger

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Hey all, hope you enjoyed this episode! In the future, I aim to make these videos even more detailed, with me going through every nut and cranny. There are a lot of systems on a plane, way more than in tanks, so with the time we had it wasn't possible here.

[@Blessingvr]

Military Aviation History hello! I love this video becuase i find ww2 a very interresting subject!

[@tracker113]

Hey Bis, I don't know if you've ever heard about the Imperial Japanese Army's Submarine, the Maru-yuu, which had some... problems, to say the least.

[@skullyairsoft80]

Just FYI, 100 LL next to a fuel tank means 100 Low Lead in reference to the fuel grade, not 100 Liters.

[@visionist7]

skullyairsoft80 I was thinking the 100 litres script may have been added when the French used the aircraft but this makes more sense

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

That's right, the volume is of course set as gallons

[@RockerboiProduction]

It still amazes me the actual size of these war birds

[@grumpyboomer61]

True. I remember the first time I walked up to an Avenger at an air show. I was absolutely stunned by it's size.

[@ubb262s]

At the time it was the largest aircraft launched from a carrier, I think that record stood until the 60's ,if I'm wrong please correct

[@kyle857]

@@ubb262s B25?

[@ubb262s]

Ok yes , CV8 USS HORNET, I was talking about aircraft designed for carrier operations

[@benjackson7872]

That and how some of them still fly

[@aubreyjphilips9481]

It’s insane how huge the TBF avenger. You only get too see it when you get to stand under it

[@kennethc.bishop7090]

Torpedo bombers were true sitting ducks not only for their bulk and lack of maneuverability, but the flight pattern they had to fly to accurately drop the torpedo. Those crews knew going in they were easy targets and nonetheless bravely carried out their mission(s). Balls of Steel.

[@TheDustysix]

One popped Saburo Sakai! He mistook it for a Wildcat. Grazed his scalp with a .50 cal. I presume. Got that tidbit from "Challenge for the Pacific" The Six month Battle for Guadalcanal by Robert Leckie.

[@wanyelewis9667]

@@TheDustysix i believe that it was a gunner on a Dauntless that nearly killed Sakai.

[@TheDustysix]

@@wanyelewis9667 Challenge For The Pacific, Leckie p78. alleges a TBF. Both Wildcat and TBF were mid wing design. SBD was low wing. Sakai had already seen SBD's. The TBF was new.

[@Caseytify]

@@TheDustysix Originally from Samurai! an autobiography by Sakai, Fred Saito, and Martin Caidin.

[@gratefulbruin942]

@@wanyelewis9667 This is the correct answer it was a dauntless we now know, leike was marine ashore, written before current known fact

[@reLAXbro13]

100LL on the fuel tank cap stands for 100 Low Lead, not litres. This is the most common fuel used by piston driven propeller planes. Just for future reference! Great video as always

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Yup, it is :)

[@petesheppard1709]

To further clarify, 100 Low Lead is the modern piston aviation gasoline. In WWII, different formulations were used, generally 130/150 octane with higher levels of lead

[@reLAXbro13]

Pete Sheppard Thanks Pete! I’ve only flown modern aircraft so I just learned something new. I wonder how the engine had to be modified (if at all) in order to run on 100LL. Maybe it just gets less performance?

[@petesheppard1709]

I'm pretty sure there were tweaks and reduced performance. Given these old engines were only expected to last a few hundred hours at most, they are also babied meticulously these days.

[@littleferrhis]

Also another thing I noticed is you called both the ADF and VOR indicators “compass and direction finders”. While technically true that they are direction finders neither are compasses(if you notice that dial at the bottom you can actually turn that to change the bearing). There’s usually only one or in this case two compasses in an airplane and it’s usually at the top to avoid messing with the airplanes navigational equipment. You can tell the VOR was added in later because it looks so new, and for VOR navigation you actually need to have specific buildings over the navigational point for it to work, which wouldn’t make sense to have over war torn water in the middle of the 40s. ADF on the other hand probably was used, since it was developed before the use of VORs. Fun fact, if you ever wanted to find out where your favorite am radio station was all you would have to do it tune the frequency into the ADF to find it.

[@visionist7]

Fantastic video. Not many folks have seen the inside of an Avenger's turret, but now we have thanks to you! I was expecting a fancy computing reflector gunsight though.

[@stevegoesrogue]

If I had to guess, it originally had a reflector sight, but during one of its refits (possibly into its current passenger/cargo plane configuration), the reflector sight was removed in favor of the normal iron sights.

[@kirotheavenger60]

Tsundere_Gaming I don't know why they would bother replacing the reflector sight, that's just extra work for no benefit.

[@stevegoesrogue]

Probably to save weight. A few inches worth of metal weighs much less than everything that goes into the reflector sight. Again, I'm suspecting this change was done to change it to a cargo/passenger plane.

[@visionist7]

Tsundere_Gaming if the Navy sold the plane to France they might have had to remove sensitive US equipment like radios and sights

[@stevegoesrogue]

That could be it, I didn't really think of that. It probably is the reason the bombsight is missing as well.

[@pancernywiatrak6368]

You sound a little bit like the Chieftain. I am now calling you the Airplane Chieftain

[@TheRetu81]

Needs more "Oh my God! The plane is on fire!" drills.

[@Ash007YT]

Fuck yes matey. "The Airplane Chieftain" need to be on some merch too!

[@major_kukri2430]

PancernyWiatrak How about "The Crew Chief"?

[@filthyweaboo2694]

Inside the Bismarck's cockpit

[@pancernywiatrak6368]

TheRetu81 Plot twist : the plane is actually flying

[@vonfragesq7145]

Once the Navy got the Mk13 working properly in 44 the TBF/TBM really came into its own as a torpedo bomber. It was instrumental in sinking both Musashi and Yamato.

[@ered203]

Amazing. My grandfather was a turret gunner for one of these during the Pacific Operations. Yes, he was supposed to have been a little guy at the time. He should have been little, because the little smartass forged his father's signature and enlisted at 16 years old. Thank you so much for doing this so I can finally see a bit from his perspective. I remember the stories, but there is nothing like seeing it. When I was about 21, he took me to Charleston, SC and we went on the Yorktown. He flew off the Lexington for a bit and they were sister ships. He just ditched the tour and took me everywhere. We opened "Authorized Only" hatches and climbed ladders and basically went to every part of the ship. It was funny because this was about 1991 and the ship was crawling with guys my grandfather's age and my age. The coffee shop on the hanger deck was filled with old women sitting alone and patiently waiting for their husbands and grandsons to get finished playing and telling stories.

[@Benji1969]

Did no one notice y’all went into authorized only spaces?

[@mpccenturion]

These planes were also used as Spruce Bud Worm - Spray Planes back in the late 60's - 70's. Here in Atlantic Provinces - Canada. I worked for Georgia Pacific back then. Well - during one summer day - a pilot had the engine drop out. He was close to the St. Croix River - Between Canada and the US. Pilot road the plane down into the river and settled it on the rocks. Lot of granite down that river. Pilot was sitting on top of a big rock, having a smoke, when the chopper picked him up. He swore the TBM was the safest plane he ever flew. The armor around the pilot kept him well.

[@brianl0604]

Great video! In the majority of operational US Navy/Marine Corps Avengers in World War 2, the tandem cockpit position behind the pilot was not used, and in later models, no middle seat was installed. Instead, this area held two large radio transceiver units and other electronics. In any case, the TBM/TBF's radio operator's station was in the tunnel under the turret, facing forward, where the radio interface panels and equipment were installed. The radio operator also manned the ventral .30 caliber machine gun position.

[@c.j.1089]

I honestly never knew those planes were that large, and you could move around inside of them. Fascinating.

[@randyjennings3075]

Crewing a TBM, it is a normal operation for us to fold the wings. Our hangar is not huge, similar to a carrier's hangar deck, so we ALWAYS fold the wings when arriving back home. The video hints it is a trick at air shows, but most if not all TBM operators, in the United States, still fold their wings to get into and or save space in the hangar. Great videos by the way. 🙂

[@seegurke93]

Looking at that cockpit, our flight schools Piper training aircraft look luxurious :D

[@deadlybladesmith3093]

You may not get to get inside them, but at Oshkosh, you get to see tons of war birds! It's always my favorite day because I love world war II stuff, and they fly over like they are dropping bombs, then set off explosives on the runway.

[@samsignorelli]

Speaking as a US Air Force vet....thanks for singing my service song while climbing into a NAVY plane!!

[@marc-olivierdiserens8958]

I live right next to this airport, I have the pleasure to see and especially hear this plane taking off and landing quite often from my balcony, but thanks for letting me to see how it's inside!

[@CapComMDb]

Great video! Nice look inside the plane. For info on the Midway operation of the TBF, read A Dawn Like Thunder. The radio operator was killed, the ball gunner was badly wounded, and the pilot was also wounded. The torpedo didn't drop, and his navigational system was shot to pieces. Basically flew back to Midway blind and somehow managed to land. They shipped the plane back to Grumman for analysis since it was a miracle the thing survived.

[@wanyelewis9667]

Great book. Sounds like they would have had to use a mop to get what was left of the turret gunner (Jay Manning) out of the plane after it landed.

[@steeltribe3967]

Thanks for the video, great job. Especially enjoyed the detail and seeing the clocks in mounted in the instrument panel. My father flew his last tour in a TBM. He always shared a story that after the tour, whilst returning home, no crew required other than the pilot and knowing the plane was going to be scrapped he set about removing the clock mounted in the front panel, which he had long coveted. Having selected autopilot he rolled over with some tools and inserted himself under the dash and set about removing it. He soon realised that his flight suit was firmly jammed and he couldn't free himself for what he describes as an eternity. He was sure that after having lived through a war he was going to die in a pointless crash jammed under his instrument panel. He did extract himself but gave up on the clock.

[@9999plato]

Imagine wearing a parachute and getting into the ball turret. I'm sure it dangled below by the legs where pilots sat on theirs.

[@benwilson6866]

This is amazing. My Grandpa was a bombardier in one during the pacific campaign. Id love to get an opportunity to fly in one someday.

[@visionist7]

ben wilson your grandpa had some iron balls

[@Cowboycomando54]

Mine was a ball gunner.

[@randyjennings3075]

Crewing a TBM with the Commemorative Air Force, I so enjoyed your video. Yes squeezing into the turret requires some gymnastics. We also use a short ladder to help in loading that position. The restoration is damn good. Though having such a huge and padded seat in the rear position is a bit off. Still on long flights it would be so nice, as your butt tends to fall asleep on the original folding metal bench. Again great video.

[@2DFlightSim]

So is that basically a ball turret? I had no idea it would be that cramped - major respect to anyone willing to get in there during combat. I think I'd have a claustrophobic panic attack just trying it on the ground. Thank you for crawling into these planes - showing us the interesting things that somehow other videos never cover.

[@scoutguard3015]

I would quite like it in the bombardeer seat or pilot seat but even though i would still go on other seats they would just be ugly to stay in and uncomfortable

[@Vierzehn014]

Where is the: OH GOD! THE PLANE IS ON FIRE!! Part?

[@neilwilson5785]

I don't think these fragile aeroplanes could be subjected to the force of a Chieftan trying to get out. He'd break them, and the owners would get politely angry.

[@courier955]

Neil Wilson...I've never heard the Grumman Avenger referred to as 'Fragile' before. It was built like a brick shithouse.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

Grumman was known for its... solid... designs. Kinda had to be when you give it to a 19 year old farm boy from Iowa to slam onto a carrier deck.

[@markfryer9880]

Malevolent Kiwi Grumman Ironworks was way to refer to any Grumman made and or designed aircraft. With good reason as they knew how tough the carrier environment was on equipment and also the importance of getting aircrew back as safely as possible.

[@lycossurfer8851]

Less of a problem than tensioning the tracks though

[@wm268]

My dad was an 18yr old gunner on one 1944-45. He never talked about his time in it. Thank you for the video.

[@avp5964]

That plane is in absolutely gorgeous condition, props to you and a big thanks to the owner for this video

[@anim8torfiddler871]

Thank you. My dad served on the USS Hornet (CV-8) from just before Pearl Harbor to the day it was sunk in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. I got to see the interior of the USS Forrestal (CVA-59) many years later, but never saw the interior of aircraft he would have handled in WWII.

[@NormanMStewart]

I'm sorry, but why does the armor plate say "Hard Homo"?

[@BoarVessel-BCEtruscanCer-xy7et]

I imagine it means homogeneous, as that was the popular armour type of the day

[@skullyairsoft80]

Norman M. Stewart In full, I'm fairly certain it reads Hard Homogeneous, in reference to the steel it's made of.

[@Ancient_Yuletide_Carol]

Likely stands for "Hardened Homogenized" AKA: RHA Steel plate

[@visionist7]

I thought that too like WTF

[@NormanMStewart]

Oh, good. Immature minds will laugh at this though.

[@FrankDad]

There is a tbm avenger rebuilt from the ground up at NAS Wildwood in South Jersey. I remember as a kid in 2005 seeing it in the museum being built and it was finished by 2014

[@Ethnarches]

This was great, these "inside planes" episodes are superb. This is unique content, well done!

[@STN743]

THIS VIDEO MAKES ME REMEMBER THE BURIAL OF LOYCE DEEN, ON NOVEMBER 5, 1944, IN WORLD WAR II. REST IN PEACE, MR. DEEN.

[@briansmith9439]

Thanks for this doc. It's great to see the plane close-up. My father, having graduated from high school in June '42 and having turned 18 the following month, was placed in charge of a 5-man inspection team of TBM Avengers at GM's Turnstedt plant outside of Trenton, NJ in August. While serving on Tinian Island in '45, he took several photos of the Avengers in the air (which I now have).

[@manic_miner]

Amazing video... And I thought that the Spitfire was cramped inside.. just imagine having to move around in your equipment with war going on around you.. madness.

[@petesheppard1709]

Thank you for a fascinating video!! As a child of the '60s, WWII was still fresh and its history a major interest of mine, especially naval aviation. This is the first real look I've had of this classic bird. They were also equipped for the Norden bombsight for level bombing; the sight mount being right behind the bomb bay and operated by the third crewmember. They also used the 11.75 inch 'Tiny Tim' rocket, dropping from the bomb bay and firing with a lanyard.

[@ThroneOfBhaal]

Beautiful! I love that you've started doing this style! Your presenting is coming along rather rapidly too, it's great to see! Keep it up!

[@m.abbott3386]

Good tour of the aircraft. Great detail, great info from a close perspective of the inside of the plane. Appreciate your attention to all aspects of the plane.

[@daemondrogan1875]

Great video of the TBF. I found this after watching a documentary of the Battle of Midway and was really curious about how these bombers were laid out and I found this very informative. Keep up the great work

[@randalkeller4845]

Built in either the Linden NJ or Ewing two. Assembly plants. My father worked in the Linden plant for 30 years and he showed me the tunnel that ran under Route1 to what was then the Linden airport where the planes were checked and then fueled and flown to the Naval air station for delivery. Great video by the way!! Thank you for all the videos

[@thecanadiankiwibirb4512]

Yes! I have been looking for a tour of this plane for years! Great video Bismarck

[@gospyro]

My dad had just finished training as a bombardier/radio operator on the Avenger when the war ended. Thank you for the walk-thorugh (climb-through!?). My dad had talked about how cramped and crazy getting around inside the plan was, but I had never thought to look it up and try and see for myself.

[@s.p.ltd.3886]

In the early 1980s my neighbor was an ex-USN pilot that flew an Avenger off a carrier late in WWII. His main job was bombing and strafing targets on land. As a pilot he hated the turret and told the crewman to not turn the turret under any circumstances as he said it acted like a giant sail and made the aircraft almost impossible to control.

[@xmlthegreat]

It's absolutely gobsmacking when you think about the fact that the TBD Devastator was obsolete within 5 years of coming into service. Whereas nowadays we have the MiG-21 whose first flight was in 1956, still in active service today, over 60 years later. Boggles the mind just how rapidly Aeronautical engineering was developing in those days that aircraft could be obsolete even before they entered service!

[@TheRealHawkeye]

Great work Bismark! I'm glad you made it out of the turret. I smiled when I saw you getting in it. Good job again!

[@gryfandjane]

Thanks for the tour! It was really a treat to see the interior.

[@rjrestorationstation4402]

Thank you very much for the tour!!! Awesome plane, during 1944 the USNavy finally gots torpedo they could drop from 800 feet @ 260 mph. It made for better and safer operations.

[@spanpt]

Wow--awesome to see the inside like that. I appreciate the work you did on this one, and it makes me appreciate what the aircrew had to go through just to get to their seats!

[@vorticwatchcompany]

I didn't know about this story! Thank you for the detailed account, loved every bit! Best, IC

[@andypayne2743]

These videos are great. I can’t imagine how terrifying it must have been in these tight, cramped spaces in combat.

[@blueone117]

So cool to see this! My grandfather was a radio man on these planes in WWII! Great to have somewhat of a glimpse into what he would’ve seen in combat!

[@davedavedave52]

I going to award you with the title " Forgotten Weapons of Aviation" . Your thorough explanations of the back ground, operation, and layout of these famous planes is awe inspiring. I can't get enough, Thank You. Ich hat dieses in Deutsch geschrieben , aber Ich habe zu viel vergessen. lider.

[@nicholasroberts6954]

Thanks for the tour. My dad flew a TBF-1c whilst in the wartime Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.He took part in the attacks on Tirpitz whilst it was moored in Alten/Kaa Fjord. His squadron was principally involved in dropping sea mines against Tirpitz as well as other anti-submarine work. One aircraft in the squadron suffered an engine failure, on return to the carrier from anti-submarine duty and went into the sea with two armed depth-charges on board. The depth-charges detonated and the pilot was blown through the greenhouse canopy by the force of the explosion . . .and survived.The other two crew members were killed. Your tour gave me an appreciation of just how cramped and difficult working conditions were in these aircraft. I can't begin to imagine how the aircrew could get into these planes let alone move about wearing flying suits, boots, mae west and parachute and fly the aircraft. How did they attend to other wounded crew members in flight ? Obviously, human factors weren't foremost in the designers minds. I believe that post WW2 some of the Avengers (TBMs) went on to be used on the French carrier Arromanche (Previously the British Light Fleet Carrier Colossus) - only gleaned this information from an ex-member of the Arromanches crew who the family met, post-war, whilst on holiday in France, courtesy of pen-friend relationship struck-up by my sister through an independently initiated, school sponsored scheme. Its a small World !

[@honey5bucket]

Thank you so much for the interior tour. I have wanted to see inside for years.

[@fortissimolaud]

100LL is the type of fuel this thing drinks, and 93 gallons is a lot more than 100 litres!

[@Spacklatard]

Yup 100LL Is 100 octane low lead

[@WilliamParmley]

EXCELLENT! Thank you very much. My father was in VTN-55 out of Guantanamo. He rode in the back end as the navigator. (He was also a qualified Lighter Than Air pilot.)

[@jasonrogers469]

Great video, your intricate knowledge in so many of your videos is amazing! Well done!!

[@lgeubs]

I admire the way you sacrifice for your art. What a struggle!

[@FerretMasterXX]

Thank you...thank you...thank you! I have long wondered what the crew compartment of the TBM/TBF was like. I have had the opportunity to do a "walk-around" of the TBM (Chico muni. apt. Chico, CA) years ago but did not have the opportunity to do the "inside tour". Again, thanks for a great video of a fantastic machine that in part most of us owe our existence to today. Thanks to all the WWII veterans that went in harms way in machines such as these!

[@jmfa57]

I live very near the Planes of Fame Air Museum located in Chino, California. Several years and forty pounds ago, I was able to crawl into the ball turret of their B-17, the Picadilliy Lilly. GAWD... at the time, they had a couple of former ball turret gunners as docents. I struck up a number of conversations with Dick Bowman and Wilbur Richardson. I can't imagine what these guys went through. Wilbur is still alive and only very recently left California for the Midwest. Great video, thanks for keeping the knowledge of these machines going on to the younger generations.

[@Anlushac11]

Awesome video. First time getting a crawl through a Avenger. Many Thanks!

[@jetpilot3714]

You did a really nice job! Thanks for the presentation!

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

Great stuff. Seeing these machines in the flesh takes advantage of the video format. Keep up with the excellent content.

[@halroy9610]

Awwwe maaannnn. Thank you for that. I've never seen the inside of that aircraft and have always wanted to see. That was awesome . Thank you again.

[@slick4401]

Brilliant video! Thanks, Biz!!!!!!

[@danielmarso7242]

A sad Avenger story from WWII , a TBF returning from a very difficult mission , the tail gunner called to the pilot,and said the ball turret gunner was wounded probably fatally, because most of his teeth were in the lower compartment. The pilot radioed before landing back on the Carrier , and reported the gunner may be KIA ! Upon landing,the remaining crew left the aircraft, and two Corpsmen went up to inspect the turret. They confirmed that the gunner died of a very fatal head wound and was nearly decapetated , they removed his dog tags , took his fingerprints, then a Navy Chaplin climbed up and performed the last rites for the Gunner. He was then covered with a blanket,and the TBF was rolled off the Fantail. A very sad tale,with some additional information on the Gunner, I believe he had just returned from being wounded and a stay in the hospital, this was his first mission back with his Squadron . RIP

[@dirtydave2691]

This is your first video I ever watched and I have have watched 2 times. As an avid scale modeler and military history geek I have to say well done!

[@wideyxyz2271]

Nice work Bis...Most enjoyable.

[@neilwilson5785]

Excellent video. I love this hands-on stuff. As your reputation increases, I'm sure you'll get a lot more access. After all, your viewers will want to visit the museums or air shows where these amazing aircraft can be seen.

[@woppysue]

My father was a turret gunner in a TBF and a TBM. He flew off of the Belleau Wood CVL 24 in Admiral Bull Halsey's taskforce 58

[@billietyree6139]

One of these planes became the coffin for the turret gunner who was killed in it and the plane was so shot up as to be unsalvageable so they were buried at sea together, with honors.

[@kylestickley8096]

Lmao the abbreviation on the gunners armored plate is pretty funny

[@tomservo5007]

wow, that gunner's seat really puts into context why Loyce Deen had to be buried at sea with the plane

[@Ash007YT]

Keep em comming MAH. Love the effort and passion for these videos.

[@MilitaryAviationHistory]

Thanks Ash, glad you enjoy them

[@StuSaville]

Can't help thinking of that sad film footage from the USS Essex where they were unable to remove a dead gunner from the mangled turret of a TBF so they buried him at sea inside his aircraft.

[@Zanomani]

All your videos are super fantastic, have never seen anything as good as yours..Thank you!

[@Querencias7]

E X C E L L E N T information AND presentation! Great job. Many thanks for the tour of this beautifully restored TBM. One beautiful warplane indeed.

[@benjaminrush4443]

Excellent Job covering the Avenger. Thank you.

[@jangroeschner8920]

Great to get such a detailed view of the Interior of such a Legend

[@timgoins]

My Dad was an Aviation Machinist's Mate and aircrewman in the turret and was 6'3". He also complained about being cramped. At least he was skinny. Also, the radio was in the lower position, not the greenhouse.

[@richardtucker5686]

One of my favorite planes, thanks for the showing

[@robertguttman1487]

My father flew combat missions in these aircraft during WW-II as a combat cameraman. Although he flew in a number of other types of aircraft, including the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver and Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the Avenger was unquestionably his favorite. There was good reason for that. The Avenger may not have been the most attractive airplane of the era, but those who flew in it had great confidence in it. The torpedo-dropping mission was extremely hazardous, requiring aircraft to fly low and straight, but the Avenger was extremely strongly built, and could take a tremendous amount of punishment and remain intact. On one occasion my father was shot down in an Avenger off the Philippines. The gunner was killed, but the pilot managed to ditch the stricken Avenger in the sea, and he and my father managed to get out into a life raft. However, despite having been badly shot up, that Avenger was so tough that it would not sink. And they really wanted it to sink, because they were afraid that the Japanese would spot the floating airplane, come out and capture them. The Japanese had a bad habit of executing prisoners in those days, so they definitely did not want to fall into the hands of the Japanese. They actually had to shoot the Avenger full of holes with their pistols in order to get it to sink. By the same token, on many occasions damaged airplanes had to make crash-landings onto the decks of aircraft carriers. If it was a Grumman airplane, such as a Wildcat, Hellcat or Avenger, the chances were good that the occupants would walk away from it. However, if it were any other type, such as a Corsair or Helldiver, the chances of survival were much lower.

[@MyelinProductions]

THANK YOU! Great Video! Awesome History! Peace & Health

[@thetourettesgamer8851]

I must admit well done for getting in that turret! Love the avenger I got to see one in the fleet air arm museum last week and I also got to sit in the cockpit oftheir de havilland vampire t 11 as well :)

[@GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles]

Another great video. Thank you very much.

[@Choo-ew9so]

My first insight into this plane was as a kid in the mid-70's, building the Monogram 1/48 scale model Avenger, as with most WWII aircraft.

[@MrTmac9k]

Enjoyed it immensely. My Dad was a ball turret gunner back in the day aboard USS Santee (CVE-29).

[@hughboyd2904]

Great walk through! (Or crawl through?) I’m currently reading through all of the Pacific War history - at the moment I’m still on Guadalcanal - so it’s great to see this plane in detail, given the part it played in that conflict. Thanks from Australia.

[@arsenal-slr9552]

So badass! Great video as always

[@straswa]

Awesome vid, I had the privilege of seeing an Avenger up close at the recent "Gathering of the Warbirds" here in Waukesha, Wisconsin. It even took off and flew above the stands.

[@wrightflyer7855]

+Military Aviation History: Excellent presentation (as usual) of an iconic aircraft. I always enjoy your videos! On a side note, when I was taking some night courses at a Community College around 1987 I met a gentleman who was the .50cal turret gunner in a TBM in the Pacific. He's probably gone now, but I was impressed by his ability to recall details that only someone who had experienced it would know. I've never forgotten this.

[@justicebinder6544]

I love the avenger ! Such a good sturdy plane. Thanks for the video !

[@kibble9101]

Bis please do a B-17 walkthrough, preferably one with an intact ball turret you are allowed to get in

[@buddyollieextreme9590]

Sir kibble I actually got to walk through a b17 when it came to an air show in my town!

[@jaxxmadine]

Bis wont fit in the ball turret. Ive been in so many b17s over the years. I hate when they add the wooden floors.

[@markfryer9880]

jaxxmadine They probably have to do that to stop people tripping over or rolling their ankles.

[@FrankDad]

Sir kibble there is one touring the u.s. the big five-o or something like that

[@stevescheel6753]

@That one guy And what if you're rolling down the runway and a landing gear goes out. Could be messy.

[@alexconaghan3486]

Thank you for sharing this video. Seeing an Avenger in person for the first time on the Hornet CVS 8 carrier museum at the Alameda Naval Air Station in northern California (Oakland/Bay Area) was awe inspiring. Firstly, these birds are absolutely huge! I did a double take at their sheer enormity in size! I immediately knew it was an Avenger, but was in shock. The avenger is a big plane. This is the same plane that President George Herbert Bush flew in the Pacific in 1945 when shot down at the island of Chichi Jima (near Iwo Jima), and later rescued by US submarine. The other two crew members did not survive. Again, thank you for sharing.

[@corwinhyatt519]

So the gunner postition was designed for some one around 5'2"/5'3" and you're about a full foot taller @ about 6'2"/6'3"... I do not envy you cramming yourself into it, I sure as hell couldn't at 5'11" (180cm) and being a bit thicker in the middle.

[@kennybewley2191]

😂😂 Imagine trying to squeeze into the ball turret of a B-24

[@pizzafrenzyman]

In those days, it was quite easy to find personnel of the correct height. Growing up during the great depression stunted the height potential of most young men of military age.

[@johneasler9967]

Save the metric shit, buddy

[@EstorilEm]

No worries - they were usually the first to go - although I don’t have a good answer as to why (enemy fire wasn’t THAT accurate, and the radio navigator wasn’t protected any better). Also I’m about 6’ and WAY bigger than this guy, and you can do it if you’re careful. ;)

[@PackFan2323]

@@johneasler9967 A great informational review he made.

[@calebeastman4069]

My Great Grandfather was the turret gunner in one of these. Great to finally see an in depth look at this aircraft!

[@mrcllean8239]

Man I love watching his virtual tour of military vehicles. Hard for me since there's hardly any near me

[@stevenschofield8518]

wow great video... im so jealous you got to see and sit in that amazing plane. you the man!

[@kevinkoepke8311]

Thanks for the tour.

[@Papershields001]

There is one of these at my local airport in Culpeper Va. One of the coolest things ever is seeing him taxi all the way out to the runway with the wings folded.

[@lawrencemyers3623]

Great presentation as I was just reading an account today of the lone Avenger of VT-8 that survived the mission against the Kido Butai at Midway on 4 June 1942.

[@AndrewMay100]

Great video mate and bravo to the owner for letting you film inside it