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: Deen was killed instantly in his gunner’s turret. The pilot, Lt. Robert Cosgrove, managed to fly the shattered plane back to the aircraft carrier USS Essex .

One of the most famous and tragic stories involving a TBF Avenger is that of , a 23-year-old gunner aboard a TBF Avenger. Tbf (1) mp4

: It was officially named the "Avenger" just weeks after the attack on Pearl Harbor, signifying its role in the U.S. Navy's retaliation. : Deen was killed instantly in his gunner’s turret

: Pilots affectionately called the plane the "Turkey" because of its large, rugged, and somewhat homely appearance compared to sleeker fighters. One of the most famous and tragic stories

: On November 5, 1944, during the Battle of Manila Bay, Deen’s aircraft (a TBF Avenger) was hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire.

: The Grumman TBF-1 Avenger was designed to replace the outdated Douglas TBD Devastator. It first saw combat at the Battle of Midway in 1942.