Martin B-26 Marauder

Video Title :	Martin B-26 Marauder
Description :	Responding to the US Army Air Corps' need for a high speed medium bomber, the Martin Company submitted an unusual design; a cantilever shoulder wing monoplane carrying five (later seven) crewmen. While the plane met or exceeded all performance requirements, with a wing optimized for high speed cruising, it was found to be unstable at low speeds during take-offs and landings. After a number of training accidents, modifications were made and the Marauder went on to record the lowest attrition rate of any American aircraft serving with the Air Corps' 9th Air Force in Europe, a remarkable feat considering the plane's undeserved nickname of "Widow-maker," among others (see Nicknames below.) The B-26 carried a normal bomb load of 3,000 pounds, though another 1,000 pounds could be added when fitted with special wing hardpoints. Armament included eleven 12.7-mm machine guns in fixed, forward-firing, nose and waist mounts, and in powered dorsal- and tail-turrets. Though its service ceiling was 19,800 feet, the Marauder's primary role was close tactical ground support. As such, it was widely used in the Pacific theater and the Mediterranean by both the USAAC and the RAF, which had acquired 522 B-26's under Lend-Lease. Some of the twenty variants of this aircraft included the B-26A (increased added fuel capacity, externally mounted torpedo, system revisions and heavier armament, of which 139 were built); the B-26B (bigger engines, armament revisions and better armor protection, a 6-foot increase in wing span, taller vertical tail and more armament, of which 1,883 were built); the B26-F (improved take-off performance and equipment changes, of which 300 were built); and the JM-1 (one of several designations for US Navy models of the Marauder, used mainly for training of shipboard anti-air crews and photo-reconnaissance.)
Views :	6108
Rating :	5.00
Keywords, Tags :	Martin B-26 Marauder USAAF Warbird Aviation WW2 Free French
Video Length :	3 : 16

Comments :

My great uncle was a tailgunner on a Martin Marauder. Great man, great plane.

My grandfather flew this plane in WWII, and his plane shot down the famous Adolf Gallen, ME-262 ace

I've always loved this plane. Ever since I was a kid. It's such a beast. I could never comprehend the four .50s on the side though. Did these things actually strafe?

Awesome thanks for posting this

When men came back from the war and loved these aircraft more than anything or anyone else, you know how important they were to those crews.

sweet. my grandad was a b-26 pilot and squadron leader of a South African squadron.

This looks like a B-26 that has croix de Lorraine ensigna on it of Free French Forces at Le Bourget museum? North of Paris?

thats awesome!

Nice! I see it live in Oct 07

sweet! One of my favourite ww2 planes!