Grumman named the TBF-1, the new torpedo bomber for the US Navy, 'Avenger' on the day that the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the USA into World War Two. It proved to be just that, playing a major part in the sinking of over 60 ships of the Imperial Japanese Navy.

Two features made the Avenger outstanding. It was the first single-engined American aircraft to incorporate a power-operated gun turret, and the first to carry the heavy 22 inch torpedo. It could also carry bombs, rockets, and depth charges. 9,836 Avengers were produced by Grumman and General Motors (Eastern Aircraft Division).

Torpedo attacks by Avengers played the predominant role in the sinking of the largest battleships ever built, the Musashi and Yamato, in October 1944 and April 1945 respectively. The Avenger entered Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm service in January 1943 and the British Pacific Fleet's Avengers made devastating attacks on oil refineries in support of the Americans' final drive on Japan in 1945.

The Avenger on display is painted to represent the TBM flown by President George Bush when, as a Lieutenant, he served with the US Navy in the Pacific during 1944. He named the aircraft Barbara, after his wife.