The TBM Avenger Reunion and the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show have partnered to gather the largest possible number of Grumman TBF/TBM Avengers from across the United States for their respective 2025 events. Celebrating its tenth year, the Annual TBM Avenger Reunion and Salute to Veterans will take place May 16–17, 2025, and is set to feature the USAF F-16 Viper Demo Team, more than ten TBM Avengers, and a performance by the Titan Aerobatic Team.
Just a month later, the 2025 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show will be held from June 20–22 at Willow Run Airport. The show’s official theme—”Avenger Awesomeness”—aims to showcase the world’s largest gathering of Grumman TBF Avengers. The event will also feature the U.S. Navy Blue Angels, the USAF F-22 Raptor Demo Team, and at least twelve Avengers, with organizers actively working to increase that number.
Now in its tenth edition, the TBM Avenger Reunion and Salute to Veterans was founded by TBM owner and pilot Brad Deckert. His vision was to create a dedicated platform for TBM owner/operators to connect, share operational knowledge, and collaborate on the maintenance of the Navy bomber’s Curtiss-Wright R-2600-20 engine, while also addressing shared concerns and challenges.
Thunder Over Michigan has a long history of assembling historically significant aircraft. In 2004, its organizers set out to bring together as many Grumman TBF Avengers as possible, resulting in a record-setting gathering of 12 Avengers, which still stands today. The event went on to host the world’s largest gathering of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses (8 aircraft) in 2005 and 2010, and the largest assembly of Vought F4U Corsairs (11 aircraft) in 2019. One of the key highlights of both 2025 events will be Dennis Sanders’ TBM Avenger, traveling all the way from California—a joint effort made possible through cost-sharing between both shows.
| A full list of participating aircraft is available below: |
| TBM-3E (BuNo 85632) Brad and Jane Deckert Pilot: Brad Deckert | TBM-3S, BuNo (BuNo 91521) Vintage Flying Machines |
| TBM-3E (BuNo 91436) Lake Erie Warbirds Pilot: Charlie Cartledge | TBM-3E (BuNo. 91426) CAF Capital Wing RIDES AVAILABLE |
| TBM-3U (BuNo 53768) Tom Buck Pilot: Tom Buck | TBM-3W (BuNo 85650 ) Mark Simmons |
| TBM-3E (BuNo 85983) Steve Sorge Pilot: Steve Sorge | TBM-3E (BuNo 85882) David Prescott |
| TBM-3E (BuNo 53454) Military Aviation Museum | TBM-3E (BuNo 53503) CAF Rocky Mountain Wing RIDES AVAILABLE |
| TBM-3E (BuNo 53420) Tri-State Warbird Museum | TBM-3U BuNo 69329 Dennis Sanders |
| TBM-3E (BuNo 53353) CAF Missouri Wing |
One of these Avengers may have been the aircraft which returned to where it was built for a celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Fisher Body. Our Ternstedt Division’s Fisher Body plant on Parkway Avenue in West Trenton, New Jersey, had an open house in 1983 to celebrate with employees and the community Fisher Body’s 75th.
Our facility’s esteemed Personnel Manager, Ted Cannon, was instrumental in lining up the Avenger’s return. Avengers were built in wartime (WWII) in the Eastern Aircraft Division plant operated by General Motors. My maternal grandmother worked there after WWII and I started in early-1976. I hope that I’ve gotten the essential information correct here.
I enjoyed learning of the plant’s history as a part of The Arsenal of Democracy during the war. There were pictures in the front offices of the plant which showed Avengers in various stages of assembly. There was a photo of then-Senator Harry Truman peering into the cockpit of one of the planes. I’m proud to have been a small part of the operations at the plant and I’m grateful to have worked with so many good people; managers/supervisors, tool makers, skilled trades people and engineers. Best wishes.