The Avenger was built as a fighter bomber by Grumman for use during World War II. They entered service in January of 1942, shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, thus the name Avenger. American Air Power Museum describes them as "superb sub hunters." They were used "to hunt German submarines which preyed upon Allied shipping in the North Atlantic and Arctic Ocean. In the Pacific, Avengers hunted down the Japanese surface fleet and supported Marine and Army troops during island landings." Source: photo and text from www.americanairpowermuseum.com