The CAF TBM AVENGER assigned to the Rocky Mountain Wing is now on the National Historic Register
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It's official: the CAF Rocky Mountain Wing's 1945 Grumman TBM Avenger is the sixth airplane ever to have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places!
The process took the wing about 2 years from start to finish. CAF Col Dave Shepard did some independent research and suggested to look into getting the TBM on the Colorado Register of Historic Properties. Shepard volunteered to take the lead, and make it happen which was critical in seeing the process through. |
The Wing assigned Shepard to the position of Historic Preservation officer to work with the History Colorado
staff through the application process. Starting with the state historical registry was key. For Colorado, the on-line
application process was fairly easy to use, but finding and validating the required information demanded hundreds of hours of research performed by Shepard as well as CAF Col Tom Howe, and CAF Col Robert Owen..
It took a fair amount of time to take our contact from skeptical to champion, as there has never been an aircraft on the Colorado register. After much research on the TBM and other registries, Shepard found a couple of precedents in other states and that Colorado had a category for "rolling stock" which already had a few historic railroads and trains on the register. This is important because the TBM is a touring aircraft and the wing did not want to be restricted to only flying the aircraft in the state.
staff through the application process. Starting with the state historical registry was key. For Colorado, the on-line
application process was fairly easy to use, but finding and validating the required information demanded hundreds of hours of research performed by Shepard as well as CAF Col Tom Howe, and CAF Col Robert Owen..
It took a fair amount of time to take our contact from skeptical to champion, as there has never been an aircraft on the Colorado register. After much research on the TBM and other registries, Shepard found a couple of precedents in other states and that Colorado had a category for "rolling stock" which already had a few historic railroads and trains on the register. This is important because the TBM is a touring aircraft and the wing did not want to be restricted to only flying the aircraft in the state.
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The research and communication showed our contact that we were serious, and her enthusiasm and engagement increased continuously thereafter. Shepard also worked to socialize what they were up to,
getting airport staff and other committee members excited about adding a historic aircraft to the Colorado Register. 0ne of the requirements for the final approval was a series of photographs that had to be taken at its home in Colorado, which caused a delay in the process because about this time, the TBM was undergoing restoration in Arizona. This was only a slight hitch however, because the delay gave time to build excitement and by the time the wing got to the final approval events, even the Governor of Colorado was excited about having an airplane on the state register. The TBM was officially placed on the Colorado Register of Historic Properties in January 2017, and in August 2017, our History Colorado! champion informed us that she was going to nominate our TBM for listing on the National Register of Historic Properties. 0n September 15, 2017 , Airport staff of the Grand Junction Regional Airport and members of the Rocky Mountain Wing attended the History Colorado board meeting where the TBM was unanimously nominated to be recommended for a listing on the National Historic Register. The Wing received the letter and certificate last December making it official. Commemorative Air Force Dispatch Magazine, January 2018 |
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The CAF is looking into whether or not other aircraft should proceed with applying to the National Register, which could provide potential tax benef its. lnterested units should contact the CAF Rocky Mountain Wing or research their home state's process for historic registry.
About the TBM Avenger:
The Torpedo Bomber M (TBM) Avenger Aircraft N53503 is a World War ll single engine torpedo bomber in flying condition. The military aircraft was manufactured by General Motors' Eastern Aircraft division in early '1945, and
accepted for service by the United States Navy's Bureau of 0rdnance (BuOrd) on June 1 , '1945, with Bu0rd number
53503.The TBM was the largest single engine bomber deployed by the Allies in World War ll.
The aircraft is housed in a hangar located at the Grand Junction Regional Airport in Grand Junction, Colorado.
N53503 is currently painted with markings used by TBM Avengers assigned to VT-84, the so-called "Wolf Gang
Squadron" assigned to the U.S.S. Bunker Hill aircraft carrier, CV-17. ln 1950, N53503 was transferred to the Royal
Canadian Navy and operated off carrier HMCS Magnificent for many years and ended its active military duty in 1958.
According to PIC Bryan Hayter one of his missions was to lead a multi-plane flyover at Queen Elizabeth's coronation.
About the TBM Avenger:
The Torpedo Bomber M (TBM) Avenger Aircraft N53503 is a World War ll single engine torpedo bomber in flying condition. The military aircraft was manufactured by General Motors' Eastern Aircraft division in early '1945, and
accepted for service by the United States Navy's Bureau of 0rdnance (BuOrd) on June 1 , '1945, with Bu0rd number
53503.The TBM was the largest single engine bomber deployed by the Allies in World War ll.
The aircraft is housed in a hangar located at the Grand Junction Regional Airport in Grand Junction, Colorado.
N53503 is currently painted with markings used by TBM Avengers assigned to VT-84, the so-called "Wolf Gang
Squadron" assigned to the U.S.S. Bunker Hill aircraft carrier, CV-17. ln 1950, N53503 was transferred to the Royal
Canadian Navy and operated off carrier HMCS Magnificent for many years and ended its active military duty in 1958.
According to PIC Bryan Hayter one of his missions was to lead a multi-plane flyover at Queen Elizabeth's coronation.
Another Factoid: N53053 appeared in the movie You may also recognize this TBM as it is in the movie "Close Encounters of the Third Kind. "