Airplane Model*Hobby Master HA1221 1:72 TBM-1C Avenger “Barbara III” White 2 VT-51, USS San Jacinto, 1944 – Miniature Marvels: Airplane Models & Painted Dice

Just prior to the start of WW II the USN started to look for a replacement for their aging Douglas
Devastator. Grumman won the USN contract and delivered a huge rotary engine that was
enclosed in a barrel like fuselage to cut down on drag and a fuselage and wing lengths that
would accommodate a three-man crew. The aircraft was officially known as the TBF/TBM
Avenger but would come to receive the affectionate name of The Turkey. The first delivery
came in time for the Battle of Midway June 1942.

On September 2, 1944 George Herbert Walker Bush was piloting his three-man Avenger
Barbara III on a raid to the island of Chichi Jima. As he began his dive on the target the aircraft
was hit by anti-aircraft fire and began to burn but Bush continued his dive. He then turned toward
the sea and told the crew to bail out because the aircraft might explode. Unfortunately only two
men got out, George Bushs chute opened but the second didnt. Bush was rescued by a USN
submarine.