tbfavenger

The photos of TBM Avengers in this latest collection with the crudely painted registrations (most with the "N658*D"-series such as N6583D above in the background), appear to be aircraft purchased and operated by Simsbury Flying Service based in Simsbury, Connecticut in the 1950s. See: nbavengers.com/489-2/u-s-plains-eastern-and-southern-moun... Here are the other photos in the SDASM collection: www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/35551929006/ www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/35203917780/ www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/35422374952/

N4039A (ex- BuNo 85983) operated by Simsbury Flying Service. It is still flying as a warbird in US Navy markings and registered as N28SF. See: www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerregistry/avenger-85983.html See also: nbavengers.com/489-2/u-s-plains-eastern-and-southern-moun...

Here's a quote regarding the Indefatigable you might find interesting (the pilot in question was a New Zealander, my G-father): Thank you for the reference. As you know, my father was a FAA pilot on Indefatigable but he never mentioned its visit to NZ (by that stage he had left the boat for home leave) I got some info from Ross Higgins ( of the Wakefield Steam Museum) about Roy Archer, (whom my father never mentioned) that said that Indefatigable had visited him in the Sounds (Pelorus Sound to SW of Maud Island) where Roys friend the Admiral of the Fleet then visited him at Tuna Bay. The picture of the carrier in Queen Charlotte Sound may in fact be Pelorus Sound.

Thanks so much Ice Nine (and lovely to hear of your family connection to the image). I'll pass the info about the possibility that this may be Pelorus Sound on to our curators. -- Courtney

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Nautical pictures of interest., and we'd love to have this added to the group! Lovely shot.