{"product_id":"hobbymaster-tbm-3-avenger-ha1219","title":"Hobby Master HA1219 1:72 TBM-3 Avenger White 86 VC-88, USS Saginaw Bay","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJust prior to the start of WW II the USN started to look for a replacement for their aging\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDouglas Devastator. Grumman made a presentation of a prototype labeled as XTBF-1 that\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eimpressed the USN and they placed an order to purchase. The plane was perfect for the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNavy needs, a huge rotary engine that was enclosed in a barrel like fuselage to cut down on\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003edrag, and with some increase in the fuselage and wing lengths would accommodate a three-\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eman crew. Production on what was now officially known as the TBF\/TBM Avenger and\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewould come to receive the affectionate name of “The Turkey” from the pilots that flew them\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebegan in 1941 with first delivery just in time for the Battle of Midway in June 1942. What\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003estarted out as a carrier borne torpedo bomber soon turned into a close-support bomber, a\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003epatrol aircraft and even a trainer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom January 1945 until March 1945 the USS Saginaw Bay provided air cover for the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003einvasion of Iwo Jima and VC-88 lost one TBM-3. March 1, 1945 the 5th Fleet begins its raids\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eon the Ryukyu Islands in preparation for the major assault on Okinawa. On March 24, 1945,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eone day before the start of the invasion USS Saginaw Bay arrived on station off Okinawa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand provided air support to the invading forces with VC-88 losing one TBM-3. USS Saginaw\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr soft=\"\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBay left for the U.S. on April 29, 1945\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hobby Master","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43784172470499,"sku":"13505","price":119.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0632\/5000\/6243\/products\/hobby-master-ha1219-172-tbm-3-avenger-white-86-vc-88-uss-saginaw-bay-958299.jpg?v=1738273047","url":"https:\/\/www.mtsaviationmodels.com\/de\/products\/hobbymaster-tbm-3-avenger-ha1219","provider":"MTS Aviation Models","version":"1.0","type":"link"}