This General Motors TBM-3E Avenger, owned and operated by the Mid-America Flight Museum, was restored to an absolutely stunning standard by John Lane and his crew at Airpower Unlimited. It represents a remarkable piece of aviation history. The restoration is faithful down to every detail, including the full military interior as it would have appeared fresh off the line at General Motors in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1945, complete with authentic placards.
But this aircraft is more than just a beautifully restored warbird—it has an incredible World War II combat history. TBM-3E 85938 was accepted into military service on March 29, 1945. Between May and June, it was assigned to VT-86, and it did not take long for 85938, coded ‘308’, to enter combat. On July 28, 1945, piloted by Lt. Harry Badgerow, VT-86 attacked surface vessels at Kure Harbour near Hiroshima, Japan. Lt. Badgerow scored a direct torpedo hit on the cruiser Oyodo and later that same day sank the destroyer Nashi. He also flew ‘308’ over the battleship Missouri during the signing of Japan’s official surrender on September 2, 1945, and later delivered relief packages to prisoners of war at Nagoya Castle.
The website Aerial Visual provides a detailed history of the airframe. Originally constructed as a TBM-3E by General Motors, 85938 has a long and varied operational history. After its Navy service, it was transferred in 1963 to Sierra Aviation in Porterville, California, receiving the civil registration N7226C. Later that year, it was operated by the Fire Services under serial number E44. By 1964, it returned to private ownership with Wen Inc, Porterville, retaining N7226C. Around 1966, it was sold to Whirly Birds Inc, Porterville, keeping the same registration.
By 1970, the aircraft was with Capitol Aire Inc in Carson City, Nevada, still registered as N7226C, and photographed by William T. Larkins. In September 1973, Ron Olsen captured another photograph. On April 6, 1976, a certificate of airworthiness was issued for NR7226C. The aircraft transferred to Craig Aero Service in Buttonwillow, California, in 1977, and by 1984 it was with Stewart Aviation Inc in Moses Lake, Washington. On June 11, 1990, it moved to Summers Farm and Ranch Inc, Sugar City, Idaho, maintaining its registration, and later became part of the Legacy of Flight Museum in Rexburg, Idaho, bearing markings X308.
On January 1, 2006, a new certificate of airworthiness was issued for NR7226C and on August 21, 2012, it returned to Summers Farm and Ranch Inc and was based at the Texas Flying Legends Museum at Ellington Field, Houston, Texas. On November 10, 2014, the aircraft was acquired by Avenger 41 LLC in Dover, Delaware, retaining its registration and X308 markings. On August 3, 2018, it was registered to the Mid-America Flight Museum in Mount Pleasant, Texas, still maintaining its civil registration N7226C, continuing its long history as a preserved and fully operational TBM-3E. For more information about the sale, visit www.trade-a-plane.com.
