Grumman TBM-3E Avenger Takeoff

Real or Fake?

This video of a Grumman TBM-3E Avenger garnered a lot of attention after some believed that it came from a flight simulator. The footage features the Avenger taking off from Leeward Air Ranch – all captured by the uploader’s cellphone while he was in a helicopter.

We think the uncommon angle of the camera made it look…. weird for some people!

Avengers were first introduced in 1941 and readily became the US Navy’s standard torpedo-bomber throughout the Second World War. One of its most memorable fights came during the Battle of Midway in June of 1942. That day, these torpedo bombers were used by every US Navy carrier and some British Royal Navy carriers.

You can watch this amazing warbird takeoff in the video below!