We have a special treat in store for members who attend the club meeting on Sept. 11. New member Felipe Belalcazar has been working on a documentary about the TBM Avenger aircraft in Canadian service and is willing to give us an advanced screeing of his work in progress. A brief introduction:
“The Avenger entered service with the Royal Canadian Navy in the spring of 1950 as a replacement for the Fairey Firefly. In total 125 machines were taken on charge, making the Avenger the most numerous aircraft type to serve with the RCN. Following their military service many TBMs were converted for agricultural use and worked in civilian rolled for over 50 years.
Magnificent Avenger is the story of the venerable TBM in Canadian service and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum’s restoration of Avenger Bu.53858 (TBM-3E) to flying condition in Royal Canadian Navy anti-submarine configuration (AS3 Mk.I) as NAVY324 of VC920 Reserve Training Squadron based at Downsview [HMCS York] in Toronto, May 1953 – December 1963.”
*Please note that this is an advance screening of the current rough cut of this documentary*