Early History
United States Navy. TBM-3. Construction #: 2451. The military history of 85632 is provided in great detail on the current owners’ page.
Plains Aero Service, Dalhart, TX, 1963-1964. Registered as N7002C.
Air Tankers Inc, Newcastle, Wyoming, #B15 N7002C 1966-1974
Aerial spray program – NB
1971 – Pilot Otis. 1972-1973 – Did not fly in NB.
Norfolk TBM #5 FAYG, with three TBMs probably from Air Tankers Inc., still with their US registration: B15, B19, and B16. Simcoe, Ontario, 1973. [Paul Schaaremann]
Norfolk Aerial Spraying, Fredericton, NB
#B15 C-GOBJ 1974-1984
Aerial spray program – NB
1974 – Pilot Falkowsky. Forced landing, 4 June 1974. Pilot made successful wheels up landing in a swampy area south of Chatham (Northumberland Co.) during a forest spray run. No injuries occurred. Cause: failed exhaust valve. The aircraft was salvaged. [Barrie MacLeod] 1975 – Did not fly in NB. 1976, 1977 – Pilot Vermeulen. 1978, 1979 – Pilot Harrison. 1980 – Pilots Dunn and Harrison. 1981, 1982, 1983 – Pilot Leblanc. 1984, 1985 – Did not fly in NB for FPL, although Barrie MacLeod tallied GOBJ in Fredericton on 23 August 1985. 1989 – Aircraft Removed from the Register: 1989-06-12, exported To: USA 1989-06-12 [Canadian Civil Aircraft Register]
Norfolk TBM #B15, old paint job, taking off at dawn, Dunphy airstrip, 1978.
Norfolk #B15, new paint job, in the pits at Sevogle, 1982.
Norfolk #B15 parked at Fredericton, 23 August, 1985. [Barrie MacLeod]
Post-spray History
Northwest Warbirds Inc, Kimberly, ID, 1989.
Wayne G. Rudd, Carbondale, CO, June 15, 1989-2005. Registered as N81865.
Fargo Air Museum, Fargo, ND, 2005-2008. Flew as USN/T-83.
Current owner is TBM Avenger Inc/Brad Deckert, Eureka, IL. Major restoration work completed in 2010. Flown in the colors of its original WWII Unit, VMTB-234 (USMC).
