The Martin B-26 Marauder

The Martin B-26 Marauder was a bombardier twin-engine tiltrotor research of average size created by the company "Glenn L. Martin", used for the first time in the Pacific early 1942, but also on the Mediterranean front and the Western front.

The Martin B-26 Marauder carrying invasion bands

In 1939, the USAAF ordered a study for a twin-engine tiltrotor research aircraft with a maximum speed of 560 km/h, a range of 4800 km and a 910kgs bomb load. In July 1939 the company "Glenn L. Martin" proposed a prototype that entered the specifications of the United States Army and which exceeded even on some points. 201 models were ordered following the tests, and he was given the name of B - 26. It will took 2 years from the first drawings for the first aircraft released strings, and in September 1940, 930 new models were added to the original order.

The Martin B-26 Marauder was therefore a Bombardier twin-engine tiltrotor research average size to sheet-metal fuselage to crew the "bomber" in the nose (member with a mission to address and help the crew to move) armed with a machine gun. 30, a pilot, a co-pilot at his side, and a position available for a radio and a browser next to the driver. Two Gunners were also part of the crew: A gunner in the back of the aircraft, armed with a double machine gun caliber.50 and one another gunner at the bottom of the aircraft armed with a machine gun. 30.

Two bomb bays were present for a capacity of 2600kgs of bombs (although such charge was very little used, because it too much reduced the autonomy of the aircraft). More often, one of the berries was used to add fuel tanks.

The 1st flight, made by William k. "Ben" Ebel on 25 November 1940, took place without any worries and the first deliveries to the army were made as early as February 1941.

Some concerns were noted as early as the first deliveries. "An of its most important, which earned him his nickname of"Widowmarker"(maker of widows), was its high speed required for landing." Indeed, pilots were used to land at speeds much lower than that requested for this aircraft (190-217 km/h) and thus tended to decrease their speed, which resulted in a stall and a few times in a crash.
Also, this aircraft was not intended for novices. However, the army needed more in addition to new pilots, who had to fly this aircraft without experience, which resulted in crashes.
These first deliveries, changes were made and accident rate declined to be much more acceptable.

This device was the most widely used on the Western front, or for example he protected the Utah beach during d-day. But it was also used in the Mediterranean theater and in the Pacific.

He distinguished himself to bomb any targets at medium altitudes, but also when it was covered by hunters to destroy points, bades of launch of V1 and V2 in the preparation of Normandy landings...

At the end of the second world war, the Martin B-26 Marauder will have done more than 110,000 sorties, dropped more than 136 078 tonnes of bombs and will be served to the Americans, French free, English, South Africans. The 9th Airforce will also say that the B-26 was the bomber who had the least losses in combat, although his popularity due to his accident repeatedly was tainted.

In 1945, when the B - 26 production ceased, 5266 copies were produced.

Technical specifications:

Photos:

the B-26, returning to England shows traces of German Flak on the wing and on the flank.