Warplanes of the USA: Martin B-26 Marauder

Martin B-26 Marauder

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26B bomber, "A Kay Pro's Dream".

The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during the Second World War. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company.First used in the Pacific Theater of World War II in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe. After entering service with the United States Army aviation units, the aircraft quickly received the reputation of a "widowmaker" due to the early models' high accident rate during takeoffs and landings. This was because the Marauder had to be flown at precise airspeeds, particularly on final runway approach or when one engine was out. The unusually high 150 mph (241 km/h) speed on short final runway approach was intimidating to many pilots who were used to much slower approach speeds, and when they slowed to speeds below those stipulated in the manual, the aircraft would often stall and crash.

The B-26 became a safer aircraft once crews were retrained, and after aerodynamics modifications (an increase of wingspan and wing angle-of-incidence to give better takeoff performance, and a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder). The Marauder ended the Second World War with the lowest loss rate of any U.S. Army Air Forces bomber.In total, 5,288 were produced between February 1941 and March 1945; 522 of these were flown by the Royal Air Force and the South African Air Force. By the time the United States Air Force was created as an independent military service separate from the United States Army in 1947, all Martin B-26s had been retired from U.S. service. After the Marauder was retired, the unrelated Douglas A-26 Invader then assumed the "B-26" designation, which led to confusion between the two aircraft. (Wikipedia)

(USGOV-PD Photo)

"Pancho and His Reever Rats" B-26G-5-MA Marauder s/n 43-34240 444th BS, 320th BG, 12th AF Seen here after attacking a bridge (can be seen today) over the Rhone River near Arles (just west of Marseille) on August 15, 1944, during the D-Day in southern France. Hit by German AAA and exploded while attacking a roadblock near Covigliano (between Florence and Bologna), Italy on August 23, 1944. There were no survivors. It was last seen with starboard engine and the bomb bay on fire at 1,000ft, though three parachutes were reported. Crew: Lt Wilbert L Weir (pilot), F/O William H Hallenbeck (co-pilot), SSgt Ray T Ivey (bombardier), Hillary R Yavorosky (navigator), Sgt Joseph B Betenjany (dorsal gunner), Sgt Walter E Kdel Jr. (waist gunner), and SSgt Albert A Giuffre (tail gunner, and sources vary on whether he was killed or returned to duty (RTD).

(USAF Photo)

Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder (Serial No. 42-107614), coded RJ-H, "Lady Luck III". 454th Bomb Squadron, 323rd Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. Lost hydraulics and crew bailed out on 23 December 1944 mission. Martin B-26C-25-MO Marauder (Serial No. 41-35253), coded RJ-S, "Black Magic IV" and "Mr. Shorty", B454th Bomb Squadron, 323rd Bomb Group, 9th Air Force, 6 December 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26B Marauder formation, 397th Bomb Group, based at RAF Rivenhall in the UK. Closest two aircraft are B-26B-55-MA (Serial No. 42-96137), coded 9F-Y, and (Serial No. 42-96191, coded 9F-N, "Milk Run Special" of the 597th BS, 397th BG, 9th AF. The other B-26's are from the 598th Bomb Squadron. Photo taken before D-Day, as the Marauders are not painted with invasion stripes. 42-96137 was shot down on May 13,1944. 42-96191 was shot down on June 24,1944.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder (Serial No. 41-34946), "The Yankee Guerilla", 555th BS, 386th BG, 9th AF Lost control of aircraft while returning from 5 October 1944 mission in the area of Duren Barracks in Southwestern Germany. The plane crashed into a vacant house 5 miles Northwest of Compeigne, France.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder (Serial No. 41-34683), coded PN-V.

(USAAF Photo, via the National Museum of the US Navy)

One of the B-26 Marauders of the Tactical Air Force over Southern France. The bomber is headed home with the smoke covered road bridge across the Rhone River at Arles in the background.

(USAAF Photo)

Fog-bound B-26 Marauders (Serial No. 41-31681), coded TQ-A, "Patsy" and (Serial No. 41-31662), "Old Crow" of the 387th Bomb Group at Debden, UK, January 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

Ground personnel of the 387th Bomb Group prepare to load bombs into a B-26 Marauder on D- Day.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder (Serial No. 41-31707), coded KS-R, "Five By Fives", 557th Bomb Squadron, 387th Bomb Group, 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

The crew or a U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26 Marauder (s/n 40-1391, "Susie-Q") from the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron (Medium), 22nd Bomb Group, which made torpedo-attack on the Japanese carriers in the early morning of 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway: Pilot Lt. James P. Muri (second from left, front row), co-pilot Lt. Pren L. Moore, navigator Lt. William W. Moore, bombardier Lt. Russell Johnson, gunners S/Sgt. John J. Gogoj, Cpl. Frank L. Melo Jr, and Pfc. Earl D. Ashley 1st. The plane had more than 500 bullet holes when it landed at Midway and was written off. The crew was allowed to cut out the nose-art "Susie-Q" before the plane was dumped at sea.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Martin B-26B Marauder (Serial No. 41-17876), 21 Aug 1942.

(USN Photo)

A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber (USAAF s/n 40-1447) on the airfield at Cold Bay, Alaska (USA), with a Mark XIII aerial torpedo hung below its bomb bay, 11 May 1942.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26B-50-MA Marauder Serial 42-95835 of the 391st Bomb Group, based at RAF Matching, England.

‍

(USAAF Photo)

A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26B-MA Marauder (Serial No. 41-17635) in flight with the starboard propeller feathered. This aircraft crashed at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on 4 December 1942.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26B-1-MA (Serial No. 41-17747) nicknamed "Earthquake McGoon" of the 37th Bombardment Squadron, 17th Bombardment Group with flak damage to the No. 1 engine nacelle, left wing and wheel well, in September 1943. Note the missing landing gear doors.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder (Serial No. 42-107837) of the 575th Bomb Squadron, 391st Bomb Group, based at RAF Matching, England.

(USAAF Photo)

A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder (s/n 42-96142). The aircraft was assigned to the 596th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group,98th Bomb Wing, 9th Bomber Command, 9th Air Force in Europe. "X2-A" was named "Dee Feater" and carries numerous mission markers, and D-Day invasion stripes. The 397th BG was stationed starting 15 April 1944 at Rivenhall, Essex (UK), and moved to Hurn, Hampshire, on 4 August 1944. On 30th August 1944 the Group was relocated to France.

(Charles Brown Photo)

A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder (Serial No. 42-96142). The aircraft was assigned to the 596th Bombardment Squadron, 397th Bombardment Group, 98th Bombardment Wing, 9th Bomber Command, 9th Air Force in Europe. "X2-A" was named "Dee-Feater" and carries numerous mission markers, and D-Day invasion stripes. The 397th BG was stationed starting 15 April 1944 at Rivenhall, Essex (UK), and moved to Hurn, Hampshire, on 4 August 1944. On 30 August 1944 the Group was relocated to France.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder "Miss Take" and her crew, 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

B-26 Marauders of the 322nd Bomb Group line up for take off behind a B-26 (serial number 41-34959) nicknamed "Clark's Little Pill", 1 Jan 1944.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder (Serial No. 42-96153), 397th Bombardment Group, at Peronne Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-72, January 1945.

(USAAF Photo)

Ground personnel prepare to load bombs into a B-26 Marauder (K5-S, serial number 43-34194) of the 584th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group at Holmsley, 31 August 1944. Passed for publication 31 Aug 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '394BG, 584BS, Holmsley 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

TwoMartin B-26 Marauders with (Serial No. 42-96210), coded 5W-P, in front, of the 587th Bomb Squadron, 394th Bomb Group fly in formation, 1944.

(USGOV-PD Photo)

B-26 Marauders of the 394th Bomb Group on a bomb run in 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26C-15-MO Marauder (Serial No. 41-34968), "Lorelei", 558th BS, 387th BG, 9th AF Shot down on 23 June 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

Closeup view the U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder, s/n 41-31765 "Fightin' Cock" [ER-X] of the 450th BS, 322nd BG, 9th AF. The aircraft was later lost to a landing accident at RAF Great Dunmow on 12 August 44 due to battle damage received over France.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder standing in the background with four members of the United States Women's Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) receive final instructions as they chart a cross-country course on the flight line of U.S. airport. Assigned to the ferrying division of the United States Army Air Transport Command, the women pilots belong to the first class of American women to complete a rigorous nine-week transitional flight training course in handling B-26 Marauder medium bombers. They have been given special assignments with the U.S. Army Air Forces as tow target pilots.

(USAAF Photo)

Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) on the flightline with Martin B-25 Marauders, at Laredo Army Air Field, Texas, 22 January 1944.

(SDASM Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder landing.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder (Serial No. 42-96165), "Big Hairy Bird", 599th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force Taken 1 December 1944.

(USAAF Photo)

A low-angle view of the XB-26H Marauder "Middle River Stump Jumper", and its experimental "bicycle" landing gear.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

344th Bomb Group Martin B-26 Marauder.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26B-3 Marauder (Serial No. 41-17973) of the 450th Bomb Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group at Bury St Edmunds (Rougham), UK, 1942.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Martin B-26B Marauder with experimental forward gun arrangement.

(SDASM Archives Photo)

Martin B-26B Marauder, New Guinea.

(USAAF Photo)

A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26B Marauder (Serial No. 41-17589) armed with a Mark 13 torpedo, in the Southwest Pacific, in 1942. This aircraft was assigned to the 2nd Bombardement Squadron, 22nd Bombardement Group. It made a in forced landing from an unknown cause at Near Maroondan, Queensland, Australia on 5 November 1943. All crew survived, but the aircraft was destroyed.

(USAAF Photo)

Martin B-26F Marauder.

(Charles Daniels, SDASM Archives Photo)

Martin JM-1 Marauder, coded VJ-4.

(Bill Larkins Photo)

Martin JM-1 (Serial No. 66749) US Marine Corps, former AT-23B (Serial No. 41-35702) at San Francisco, 22 March 1946.

(Charles Daniels, SDASM Archives Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder, No 24, N5546N, flown in Cleveland in 1946, 1947, 1948, and 1949,in the National Air Races.

Surviving Martin B-26 Marauders:

(Author Photo)

40-1464 - C/N 1329, Reg. No. N4297J, South Hangar, Fantasy of Flight, Kermit Weeks Collection, Polk City, Florida.

40-1459 - Charley's Jewel – MAPS Air Museum in Akron, Ohio.

(NMUSAF Photo)

43-34581 - Martin B-26G Marauder, C/N 8701 "Shootin In".  It is painted as (Serial No. 42-95857) a 9th Air Force B-26B assigned to the 387th Bombardment Group in 1945. National Museum of the USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.

(Fritzmann2002 Photo)

Martin B-26G Marauder, National Museum of the USAF, Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, Ohio.

40-1370 – for display by Aircraft Restoration Services LLC, Murrieta, California.

41-31856 – B-26B, for display at Aircraft Restoration Services LLC, French Valley Airport, Murrieta, California for the Pima Air & Space Museum, in Tucson, Arizona.

(Alan Wilson Photo)

41-31773 - Martin B-26B Marauder “Flak Bait”, under restoration at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia. This aircraft survived 207 operational missions over Europe, more than any other American aircraft during the Second World War.

B-25s in France

(MilborneOne Photo)

Martin B-26G Marauder (Serial No. 44-68219) painted to represent (Serial No. 41-31576), coded AN-Z, "Dinah Might" of the 553rd Bomb Squadron of the United States Airmy Air Force (USAAF) on display at the Utah Beach Museum (Musée du Débarquement Utah Beach), Normandy, France. It was previously recovered from the Air France training school.

(Armée de l'Air française Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder stationed at d'Ambérieu-en-Bugey Air Base in France.

(Alexander Fluhmann Photo)

(PpPachy Photo)

Martin B-26 Marauder at the Musée de l'Air, Le Bourget Airport, Paris, France.

‍