B26 Martin B-26 "Marauder"

B-26

Although the B26 Martin (B-26) did not make its first flight until Nov. 25, 1940, its design showed such promise that 1,131 B-26s were ordered by the Air Corps in September 1940. The airplane began flying combat missions in the Southwest Pacific in the spring of 1942, but most of the B-26s subsequently assigned to operational theaters were sent to England and the Mediterranean area.

Bombing from medium altitudes of 10,000 to 15,000 feet, the Marauder had the lowest loss rate of any Allied bomber--less than one-half of one percent. By the end of World War II, it had flown more than 110,000 sorties and had dropped150,000 tons of bombs, and had been used in combat by British, Free French, Australian, South African and Canadian forces in addition to U.S. units. In 1945, when B-26 production was halted, 5,266 had been built.

Specifications

Span: 71 feet
Length: 58 feet, 6 inches
Height: 20 feet, 3 inches
Weight: 37,000 pounds loaded
Armament: Eleven .50-caliber machine guns; 4,000 lbs. of bombs
Engines: Two Pratt &;Whitney
R-2800s of 2,000 horsepower each
Cost: $227,000

B-26 Performance

Maximum speed: 285 mph.
Cruising speed: 190 mph.
Range: 1,100 miles
Service Ceiling: 19,800 feet

B26 Operational history

During World War II, B26 crews began flying combat missions in the South Pacific in spring 1942, but most of the aircraft were sent to England and the Mediterranean. The 22nd Bomb Group (Red Raiders) 5th Army Air Force was originally based in northern Australia to protect the aircraft from Japanese fighter attack but often staged its flights out of Port Moresby, New Guinea. On 9 June 1942, Lt. Cmdr. Lyndon B. Johnson flew on a bombing mission departing for Lae, New Guinea. Johnson's B-26 developed engine trouble and was forced to return to base.[4]

Like the B-25, the B-26 had been designed for medium-altitude bombing, but the war brought medium bombers down to treetop level, and later versions of the B-26 were equipped with a side-mounted battery of forward-firing machine guns for strafing ground targets. The low-level bombing of Utah Beach by the Marauders during the Normandy Invasion contributed to the low casualties among the American assault force.

The B-26 was phased out of Army Air Force service before the end of the war. Their last mission was flown in May 1945.

According to an article in the April edition of AOPA Pilot on Kermit Weeks's "Fantasy of Flight", the Marauder had a tendency to "hunt" in yaw. This instability is similar to "Dutch roll". This would make for a very uncomfortable ride, especially for the tail gunner.

B26 Variants


- B26 - The first produced model of the B-26, ordered based upon design alone. Flight testing was done on the first few aircraft for about three months after delivery. The armament on this model consisted of two .30 calibre (7.62 mm) and two .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns; the last model was armed with nearly three times that number. Due to a relatively small wing, the B-26 was difficult to handle at landing speeds. Approximate then cost: $80,226.80/plane (×201)

- B-26 A—Incorporated changes made on the production line to the B26, including upgrading the two .30 calibre (7.62 mm) machine guns in the nose and tail to .50 calibre (12.7 mm). A total of 52 B26 As were sent to the United Kingdom, which were used as the Marauder Mk I. Approximate cost then: $102,659.33/aircraft (×139)

- B-26 B - A model with further improvements on the B-26 A. Nineteen were sent to the United Kingdom, which were used as the Marauder Mk IA. Production blocks of the 1883 planes built:

- AT-23A or TB-26B—208 B26 Bs converted into target tugs and gunnery trainers designated JM-1 by the Navy.

- B26 B—Single tail gun replaced with twin gun; belly-mounted "tunnel-gun" added. (×81)

- B-26 B-1—Improved B26 B.

- B26 B-2—Pratt & Whitney R-2800-39 radials replaced with Pratt & Whitney R-2800-41 radials. (×96)

- B-26 B-3—Larger carburetor intakes; upgrade to R-2800-43 radials. (×28)

- B26 B-4—Improved B-26 B -3

- B-26 B-10 through B26 B-55—Beginning with block 10, the wingspan was increased from 65 ft to 71 ft (19.8 m to 21.6 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 was heightened from 19 ft 10 in to 21 ft 6 in (6 m to 6.6 m). The armament was increased from six to twelve .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine guns; this was done in the forward section so that the B26 could perform strafing missions. The tail gun was upgraded from manual to power operated. Armour was added to protect the pilot and copilot. (×1242)

- C B26 B—Only 12 B26 Bs were converted into transport aircraft (all were delivered to the Marine Corps for use in the Philippines).

- B-26 C— B26 C was the designation assigned to those B26 B that were built in Omaha, Nebraska instead of Baltimore, Maryland. 123 B26 Cs were used by the RAF as the Marauder Mk II. Approximate then cost: $138,551.27/plane (×1210)

- T B-26 C—Originally designated AT-23B. Trainer modification of B-26C. (×>300)

- X B26 D—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 B26 system, while promising, was not incorporated into any production aircraft made during World War II. (×1, converted)

- B-26 E—Modified B-26 B 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 B26 E 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 B26 E arrangement was not worth the effort. (×1, converted)[5]

- B-26 F—Angle of incidence of wings increased by 3.5^(o); fixed .50 calibre (12.7 mm) machine gun in nose removed; tail turret and armour around the turret improved. The first B-26F was produced in February of 1944. One hundred of these were B26 F-1-MAs. Starting with 42-96231, a revised oil cooler was added, along with wing bottom panels redesigned for easier removal. A totol of 200 of the 300 planes were B26 F-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-26 G - B26 F with standardised interior equipment. A total of 150 bombers were used by the RAF as the B26 Marauder Mk III. (×893)

- T B-26 G—B-26G converted for crew training. Most, possibly all, were delivered to the United States Navy as the JM-2. (×57)

- X B-26 H—Test aircraft for tandem landing gear, 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.

(credits: US Air Force History Support Office)