Sky Warrior

Imagine flying over the Pacific in a 40-foot warbird with a 54-foot wingspan and a Wright R-2600 radial engine producing 1,900 horsepower. The TBM Avenger was the U.S. Navy's primary torpedo bomber during World War II, carrying a pilot, gunner, and radioman-bombardier into some of the war's most demanding missions.

This aircraft—BuNo 85983—was built in 1945 by Eastern Aircraft, a division of General Motors, and delivered to the U.S. Navy near the end of the war. It served with Naval Air Reserve training units in San Diego and New Orleans before being retired from U.S. service in 1952.

After its Navy career, the aircraft continued flying with the Royal Canadian Navy. Based in Toronto, it was used to train reserve pilots and later flew anti-submarine patrols along Canada's Atlantic coast. By 1958, it was retired from military service.

Like many Avengers, it found a second life in civilian aviation—used over the years for aerial work including firefighting and utility operations across North America. Its rugged design and large payload capacity made it well-suited for these roles long after the war ended.

Today, Sky Warrior continues that legacy as a fully restored flying warbird. Owned and flown by Steve Sorge of East Troy, Wisconsin, it stands as a living piece of history—preserving the story of the aircraft, the missions it supported, and the people who flew it.