By Al Mickeloff – Marketing Manager – Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, based in Mount Hope, ON, successfully completed the first flight of its newly restored 1945 Grumman TBM-3E Avenger RCN 86180 (C-GCWG) on May 1, 2026. Piloted by James Bradley, the aircraft performed flawlessly—an achievement reflecting the dedication of the museum’s volunteer restoration team and staff, who have worked on the project for the past 17 years. The Grumman Avenger, an American torpedo bomber, is best known for its service during WWII, particularly at the Battle of Midway. Among its notable aviators were future U.S. President George H.W. Bush, who was shot down while flying an Avenger in June 1943, and actor Paul Newman, who served as a rear gunner.
(Image credit: Canadian Warplane Heritage)
In Canada, 125 Grumman TBM-3E Avengers entered service with the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in the spring of 1950, making it the most numerous aircraft type operated by the RCN. The Avenger replaced the Fairey Firefly due to its long range, heavy payload capacity, rugged construction, and ease of maintenance. After delivery in May 1950, the aircraft were modified for anti-submarine warfare and operated from HMCS Shearwater and aboard the aircraft carrier HMCS Magnificent until their retirement in July 1960.
The museum’s aircraft, a TBM-3E built by General Motors in 1945, served with the U.S. Navy into the early 1950s. Following its military career, it was converted into a fire bomber, with chemical tanks installed in the bomb bay, and operated in California from 1963 to 1972. In 1976, it was acquired by Forest Protection Ltd. in New Brunswick for use in budworm spraying operations, remaining in service until 1992. Purchased by a French preservation group in 2000, the aircraft ultimately remained in storage in Canada until the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum acquired it in 2009 with the support of a generous donor.
(Image credit: Canadian Warplane Heritage)
Since arriving in Hamilton in 2009—transported on two flatbed trucks—the aircraft has undergone an extensive restoration totaling more than 50,000 volunteer hours. The team, consisting of approximately 14 members, stripped the aircraft to its bare fuselage, carried out extensive structural repairs, rebuilt all major systems, and fabricated and installed new bomb bay doors. The Avenger has been restored to represent RCN aircraft #86180 in its anti-submarine configuration, as flown by 880 and 881 Squadrons. These units operated both from shore bases and aboard HMCS Magnificent. For more information about the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, visit www.warplane.com.
(Image credit: Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum)
