The TBF Avenger is an American torpedo bomber developed initially for the US Navy and Marine Corps and eventually used by several air and naval aviation services around the world. The Avenger entered US service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Despite the loss of five of the six Avengers on its combat debut, it survived in service to become recognized as one of the most outstanding torpedo bombers of World War II. Greatly modified after the war, it remained in use until the 1960s.