Edit1. - Development
The Martin B-26 Marauder was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company.
The first US medium bomber used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe. The aircraft distinguished itself as "the chief bombardment weapon on the Western Front" according to a United States Army Air Forces dispatch from 1946,
citation needed and later variants maintained the lowest loss record of any U.S. combat aircraft during World War II. Its late-war loss record stands in sharp contrast to its unofficial nickname "The Widowmaker"—earned due to early models' high rate of accidents during takeoff.
A total of 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, separate from the Army, all Martin B-26's had been retired from US service; The Douglas A-26 Invader then assumed the B-26 designation.
Edit2. - Serial #'s
B-26 Marauder - SerialsEdit3. - Operational History
Edit4. - Variants
B-26 The first produced model of the B-26, ordered based upon design alone. The armament on this model consisted of two .30 caliber and two .50 caliber machine guns. (The last model was armed with nearly three times that number.) Approximate cost then: $80,226.80/aircraft.
B-26A Incorporated changes made on the production line to the B-26, including upgrading the two .30 caliber machine guns in the nose and tail to .50 caliber. A total of 52
B-26As were sent to the United Kingdom, which were used as the Marauder Mk I. Approximate cost then: $102,659.33/aircraft (×139)
B-26B Model with further improvements on the B-26A. Nineteen were sent to the United Kingdom, which were used as the Marauder Mk.IA. Production blocks of the 1,883 aircraft built:
AT-23A or TB-26B—208 B-26Bs converted into target tugs and gunnery trainers designated JM-1 by the Navy.
B-26B Single tail gun replaced with twin gun; belly-mounted "tunnel gun" added. (×81)
B-26B-1—Improved B-26B. (×225)
B-26B-2—Pratt & Whitney R-2800-41 radials. (×96)
B-26B-3—Larger carburetor intakes; upgrade to R-2800-43 radials. (×28)
B-26B-4—Improved B-26B-3. (×211)
B-26B-10 through B-26B-55—Beginning with block 10, the wingspan was increased from 65 feet (20 m) to 71 feet (22 m), to improve handling problems during landing caused by a high wing load; flaps were added outboard of the engine nacelles for this purpose also. The vertical stabiliser height was increased from 19 feet 10 inches (6.05 m) to 21 feet 6 inches (6.55 m). The armament was increased from six to twelve .50 caliber machine guns; this was done in the forward section so that the B-26 could perform strafing missions. The tail gun was upgraded from manual to power operated. Armor was added to protect the pilot and copilot. (×1,242)
CB-26B—12 B-26Bs were converted into transport aircraft (all were delivered to the US Marine Corps for use in the Philippines).
B-26C—Designation assigned to those B-26Bs built in Omaha, Nebraska instead of Baltimore, Maryland. Although nominally the B-26B-10 was the first variant to receive the longer wing, it was actually installed on B-26Cs before the B-26B-10, both being in production simultaneously. 123 B-26Cs were used by the RAF as the Marauder Mk II. Approximate cost then: $138,551.27/aircraft (×1,210)
TB-26C—Originally designated AT-23B. Trainer modification of B-26C. (×>300)
XB-26D—Modified B-26 used to test hot air de-icing equipment, in which heat exchangers transferred heat from engine exhaust to air circulated to the leading and trailing edges of the wing and empennage surfaces. This system, while promising, was not incorporated into any production aircraft made during World War II. (×1, converted)
B-26E—Modified B-26B constructed to test the effectiveness of moving the dorsal gun turret from the aft fuselage to just behind the cockpit. The offensive and defensive abilities of the B-26E was tested against in combat simulations against normal aircraft. Although test showed that gains were made with the new arrangement, the gain was insignificant. After a cost analysis, it was concluded that the effort needed to convert production lines to the B-26E arrangement was not worth the effort. (×1, converted)
B-26F—Angle of incidence of wings increased by 3.5º; fixed .50 caliber machine gun in nose removed; tail turret and associated armour improved. The first B-26F was produced in February 1944. One hundred of these were B-26F-1-MAs. Starting with 42-96231, a revised oil cooler was added, along with wing bottom panels redesigned for easier removal. A total of 200 of the 300 aircraft were B-26F-2s and F-6s, all of which were used by the RAF as the Marauder Mk III. The Marauder III carried the RAF serials HD402 through HD601 (ex-USAAF serials 42-96329 through 96528). The F-2 had the Bell M-6 power turret replaced by an M-6A with a flexible canvas cover over the guns. The T-1 bombsight was installed instead of the M-series sight. British bomb fusing and radio equipment were provided. (×300)
B-26G—B-26F with standardized interior equipment. A total of 150 bombers were used by the RAF as the Marauder Mk III. (×893)
TB-26G—B-26G converted for crew training. Most, possibly all, were delivered to the United States Navy as the JM-2. (×57)
XB-26H—Test aircraft for tandem landing gear, and nicknamed the "Middle River Stump Jumper" from its "bicycle" gear configuration, to see if it could be used on the Martin XB-48.(×1, converted)
JM-1P—A small number of JM-1s were converted into photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
With the exception of the B-26C, all models and variants of the B-26 were produced at Martin's Middle River, Maryland manufacturing plant. The B-26C was built at the Martin plant in Omaha, Nebraska.
Edit5. - Technical Specifications
EditGeneral characteristics
Crew: 7: (2 pilots, bombardier, navigator/radio operator, 3 gunners)
Length: 58 ft 3 in (17.8 m)
Wingspan: 71 ft 0 in (21.65 m)
Height: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)
Wing area: 658 ft2 (61.1 m2)
Empty weight: 24,000 lb (11,000 kg)
Loaded weight: 37,000 lb (17,000 kg)
Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 radial engines, 1,900 hp (1,400 kW) each
EditPerformance
Maximum speed: 287 mph (250 knots, 460 km/h) at 5,000 feet (1,500 m)
Cruise speed: 216 mph (188 knots, 358 km/h
Landing speed: 114 mph (90 knots, 167 km/h))
Combat radius: 1,150 mi (999 nmi, 1,850 km)
Ferry range: 2,850 mi (2,480 nmi, 4,590 km)
Service ceiling: 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
Wing loading: 46.4 lb/ft² (228 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.10 hp/lb (170 W/kg)
EditArmament
Guns: 12 × .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning machine guns
Bombs: 4,000 pounds (1,800 kg)
Edit6. - Operators
- France
- South Africa
- United Kingdom
- United States
- United States Army Air Corps
- United States Army Air Forces
- United States Marine Corps
- United States Navy
- Women Airforce Service Pilots
Edit7. - Survivors
B-26B, part of the Fantasy of Flight collection in Polk City, Florida.
B-26G (s/n 43-34581) is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. This aircraft was flown in combat by the Free French during the final months of World War II. It was obtained from the French airline Air France training school near Paris in June 1965. It is painted as a 9th Air Force B-26B assigned to the 387th Bomb Group in 1945.
B-26G-25-MA (s/n 44-68219) is on display at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace in Le Bourget, France. It was also recovered from the Air France training school.
B-26 on display in Marietta, Georgia. Provenance unknown.
B-26B-25-MA (s/n 41-31773) "Flak Bait." The nose section is on display at the National Air and Space Museum, Washington DC. The remainder (mid and tail fuselage sections, wings, engines, and empennage) are stored at NASM's Paul E. Garber facility in Suitland MD. This aircraft survived 207 operational missions over Europe, more than any other American aircraft during World War II and will, one day, be restored and displayed at NASM's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center at Dulles International Airport VA.
Edit8. - Links
Edit9. - Markings
Edit10. - References