Delivered new from General Motors to USN on 3 March 1945 with BuNo. 91426. Assigned to FAWTULANT Key West, then to Naval Air Reserve Training (NART) NAS Willow Grove, PA. To Royal Canadian Navy in 1952, and stricken in July 1960. Sold surplus and converted into a bug sprayer, and in 1961 converted into a fire water bomber for use in British Columbia. Later owned by other fire fighting companies in Canada. Bought by CAF in 2001, restored to TBM-3E configuration, and now assigned to the Capitol Wing of the CAF.

Enroute from Abbotsford to Juniper (New Brunswick) for the 1975 spruce budworm spray season.

Skyway Air Services of Langley, BC first acquired Grumman TBM-3s in the 1960s for spraying and fire fighting. The fire fighting division was spun off as Conair Aviation in April 1969 with a fleet of ex-RCN and US Navy single-engine Grumman Avengers which were later sold to Forest Protection in New Brunswick. Avenger CF-MUE/618 was photographed being washed at the BC Forest Service tanker base north of the Conair hangars at Abbotsford on July after attacking a receives a wash after a mission on July 6, 1975. It was exported to the USA as N40402 in 2001.

Recently retired after service with Forest Protection Ltd. The CCAR/FAA quoted c/n 91426 is actually its US Navy serial. Exported as N40402 in 2001 to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Dallas/TX.

Sold in the US as N40402 in 2001. Under-belly droptank removed.

CCAR/FAA quoted c/n 91426 is actually US Navy serial. Exported as N40402 in 2001 to the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, Dallas/TX.