The Story of the Grumman Avenger
While SOE is famous for shipwrecks, the ocean floor also holds the remains of aviation history. The Grumman TBM Avenger was a heavy, rugged torpedo bomber originally designed for the United States Navy during WWII. Following the war, these robust aircraft were utilized by the Royal Australian Navy.
A Cold War Casualty During routine training and patrol operations off the coast of Victoria, aviation accidents occasionally occurred. This particular Avenger ditched into the ocean, sinking to the seafloor and becoming a unique, aluminum-built artificial reef.
The Discovery
Finding a sunken aircraft is a completely different challenge compared to massive iron ships. Aircraft are much smaller targets for sonar and deteriorate differently in saltwater.
The SOE team successfully located and documented the remains of this Avenger. Divers explored the fuselage, wings, and cockpit, recording the condition of the historic warbird before the relentless ocean currents break it down completely.