NZ7527 would be one of the last Avengers in New Zealand service, retiring in 1959. After civil use an a cropduster and in a children's playground, it was acquired by the Museum and Transport and Technology in Auckland. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zea;and

Photo believed to be at Hobsonville where the aircraft was stored after war service in what is now Vanuatu. Passed to the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Photo from: Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Former US Navy 91110 and N6827C. Sold as VH-TBM in 1999, but returned to New Zealand as ZK-TBE in 2012.

Ex US Navy 91733. Converted to a tanker and flown by Cisco Aircraft in 1961/62 and Desert Aviation Service in 1963/64. Operated by Aircraft Specialities of Mesa as a sprayer from 1966-1977, Retired and later to to Globe Air and to the Collings Foundation in 1986 and current with them in 2021.

Originally delivered to the US Navy as 53818.

Originally delivered to the US Navy as 69344.

Operated by D&D Aero Spray. Originally delivered to the US Navy as 69472.

Operated by Reeder Flying Service. At the time of the photo is was set up for agricultural spraying. Originally delivered to the US Navy as 91521.

Became one of the last three Avengers in RNZAF service. Sold in 1959. Was in a playground at Opunake Beach before being rescued for restoration. Now at a museum at Gisborne. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Recently retired after service with Forest Protection Ltd. The CCAR/FAA quoted c/n 91426 is actually its US Navy serial. Exported as N40402 in 2001 to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Dallas/TX.

Stored at MOTAT in Auckland. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

NZ2510 ahead of being ferried to the New Hebrides (now Vanuatu) for operations against the Japanese. Returned to New Zealand after the war then handed over the British Fleet Air Arm. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

With history going back to 1945 with delivery to the US Navy as 85460, this Avenger went to the Royal Canadian Navy next from 1950 - 60. Returning to the USA as N7032, the aircraft was converted to a tanker and sprayer. Back to Canada once again in 1976 for Forest Protection Limited of Fredericton, NB as C-GFPS, it spent a busy 25 years in Eastern Canada. Inactive and stored during 2003 - 2004, the aircraft was sold privately in 2005 to become N145WB. Pictured still in Forest Protection Limited colors, it has been kept in tanker configuration, but does no work.

Three Grumman TBM Avengers were imported by Israeli operators for agricultural use in the late 1960s or early 1970s and some flew on spraying contracts in Greece. In July 1978 the three aircraft were parked on the northeast side of Herzlia Airport still wearing their US registrations. Pictured are (L to R) N7850C (msn 2094, ex US Navy 69355), N6582D (ex-Royal Canadian Navy 385) and N6829C (msn 4646, ex US Navy 91741) with registrations confirmed from my other photographs. N7850C is now preserved at the IAF Museum at Hatzerim AFB and N6582D was seen in Nov. 2017 being restored at Herzlia Airport. The fate of N6829C is not known.

Now preserved at the New Zealand air force museum after 20 years as a gate guardian at RNZAF Te Rapa. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Sent to Espiritu Santos with 30 Sqn. Passed back to the US Navy in October 1944 without returning to New Zealand. Photo from: RNZAF/Air Force Museum of New Zealand

Performed a ditching close to Cocoa Beach, FL after engine failure on 17. April 2021