Dates

Event

Constructed as a TBM-3E by General Motors.

17 March 1945

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Navy with BuNo 85828.

From March 1945 to September 1945

Transferred to Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 234 (VMTB-234), USS Vella Gulf (CVE-111).

Participated in strikes against the Japanese held islands of Pagan and Rota in the Marianas and in the 82-day Okinawa campaign. Multiple repairs from enemy fire in the skin and interior structure were found during restoration.

Transferred to Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 622 (VMTB-622), MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

Transferred to Marine Torpedo Bombing Squadron 623 (VMTB-623), MCAS Cherry Point, NC.

27 September 1954

Assigned to NAS Litchfield Park, AZ for storage.

From 1963 to 1964

To Plains Aero Service, Dalhart TX with new c/r N7002C.
Purchased from USN for $1,768.

From 1966 to 1974

To Air Tankers Inc, Newcastle WY keeping c/r N7002C.

From 1966 to 1989

Operated as fire service #B15.

1973

To Firetankers Inc, Casper, WY keeping c/r N7002C.

1973

Photographer: Paul Schaaremann
Notes: at Simcoe, Ontario

January 1974

To Norfolk Aerial Spraying Ltd, Simcoe, ON keeping c/r N7002C.

From May 1974 to 1984

To Norfolk Aerial Spraying Ltd, Simcoe, ON with new c/r C-GOBJ.

1985

To Hicks (and) Lawrence Ltd, Tillsonburg, ON keeping c/r C-GOBJ.

From 1985 to 1989

To Forest Protection Ltd, Fredericton, NB keeping c/r C-GOBJ.

1989

To Northwest Warbirds Inc, Kimberly, ID keeping c/r C-GOBJ.

12 June 1989

Civil registration, C-GOBJ, cancelled.

15 June 1989

To Wayne G. Rudd, Basalt, CO with new c/r N81865.

22 August 1991

Certificate of airworthiness for NL81865 (TBM-3E, 5632) issued.

27 October 2005

To Fargo Air Museum, Fargo, ND keeping c/r N81865.
Markings added: T-83

5 January 2009

To Brad Deckert/TBM Avenger Inc, Eureka, IL keeping c/r N81865.

20 June 2009

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Quad Cities Air Show, Davenport, IA

20 June 2009

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Quad Cities Air Show, Davenport, IA

20 June 2009

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Quad Cities Air Show, Davenport, IA

20 June 2009

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Quad Cities Air Show, Davenport, IA

18 June 2011

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Quad Cities Air Show, Davenport, IA

24 July 2011

Photographer: Terry Fletcher
Notes: Arriving at 2011 Oshkosh

23 August 2014

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Waterloo, IA

16 November 2015

To TBM Avenger Inc, Eureka, IL keeping c/r N81865.

16 May 2019

To TBM Avenger Inc, Peru, IL keeping c/r N81865.

13 October 2019

Photographer: Mike Fuller
Notes: NOTE: The cowling and fuselage pieces (gray/white and aluminum) were for a limited time, October through November of 2019. This pic was taken October 13, 2019. On about October 3rd the Avenger took off east (passing over my house on the way out) and some time later the engine puked. Brad Deckert successfully emergency landed it out east and a marathon effort to get the Avenger home followed. A crew was quickly assembled and in 5 days they had removed the engine and accompanying parts from Tim Savages Avenger (N4171A), trucked them out east; swapped the engines out in 7 days flat; did a run rup; and headed out early AM on the 13th for a return to Peru IL/KVYS (where this photo is shot) I followed the whole process as it was posted on FB. I headed out that AM to be there for their successful return. It was flown once more in this configuration on November 3, 2019.

3 November 2019

Photographer: Mike Fuller
Notes: at Peru IL/KVYS

15 May 2021

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Peru, IL

19 May 2023

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At Peru, IL

5 November 2023

Photographer: Mike Fuller
Notes: At Illinois Valley Regional Airport/KVYS, returning from flight over Utica Illinois Veterans Parade