Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
Dedication of Vintage Grumman Avenger

Story by Gord McNulty
July 2026
A milestone occasion for the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) was celebrated on 31 May 2026 with the dedication of a completely rebuilt Grumman TBM-3E Avenger.
Canadian Warplane Heritage Avenger fires up at the 31 May 2026 dedication. © Gord McNulty
The ceremony culminated an incredible 17-year restoration by dedicated museum volunteers. More than 50,000 hours of volunteer work was required to bring the aircraft to flying condition.
The Avenger directly over the CWHM at the dedication on 31 May 2026. © Gord McNulty
The Avenger is beautifully restored in the colours of the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), which flew 125 Avengers for anti-submarine patrol from 1950 to 1956. They operated from the shore and onboard the Canadian aircraft carrier Her/His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) Magnificent.
Avengers saw much action as torpedo bombers with both the United States (US) and Royal Navies in the Pacific and the Atlantic during the Second World War.
The Avenger returns to the CWHM after the dedication flight on 31 May 2026. © Gord McNulty
James Bradley folded the wings of the Avenger to complete the dedication flight on 31 May 2026. © Gord McNulty
James Bradley, son of museum co-founder Dennis Bradley, successfully completed the test flight on 1 May. He flew the Avenger at the dedication, shown in the photos. A throng of volunteers, staff, supporters, and fans enjoyed the memorable event.
The dedication brought back personal memories. As a youngster, I watched Avengers from HMCS York’s VC 920 Naval Reserve Squadron, flying from their base at Downsview to Mount Hope, heading for practice at what was then Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Station Hamilton. The navy’s “weekend warriors” made a strong impression.

The CWHM Avenger, restored as RCN 86180, first served with the US Navy until the early 1950s. My father, Jack, took a good photo of 86180 at Malton in 1952. After its military years, it was converted to a water bomber for operations in California from 1963 to 1972. In 1976, it was purchased by Forest Protection Ltd in New Brunswick and used for budworm spraying.
Avenger 86180 at Malton 3-9-52. © Jack McNulty Collection
The Avenger was purchased by a French aircraft preservation group in 2000, but the organization couldn’t arrange transport across the Atlantic. It remained in storage until 2009, when the CWHM acquired it for the ambitious and ultimately rewarding restoration.