Original Item: Only One Available. This is a very nice Bombadier's Emergency Firing Key for the WWII U.S. Navy Grumman TBM Avenger torpedo bomber. This allowed the bombadier to release the plane's bomb load if the pilot could not do so through his controls. Also if the bomber was trying to "Pickle" the torpedo into the ship, the pilot would possibly find it difficult to both fly the plain and drop the payload.

The pilot had a very similar control, except that it was mounted on a stick. The bombadier vesrion has a black bakelite pistol-style grip, approx. 5" long, fitted with a red bakelite trigger, a fabric wrist strap and a 37" long black rubberized cord. The wrist strap would keep the control close at hand in case it was needed.

The grip bears the manufacturing code NAF 1174-1 on the left-hand side, while the cord is marked SIMPLEX - TIREX 1942. It has the correct two pin connector on the end.

A great example, ready to add to your WWII Bomber Collection!

The Grumman Avenger Torpedo Bomber:
The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) is an American torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval aviation services around the world.

The Avenger entered U.S. 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 the most effective and widely-used torpedo bomber of World War II. Greatly modified after the war, it remained in use until the 1960s.