B-26 Marauder

B-26 Marauder
Paese	Usa
Ruolo	Bombardiere medio
Prima mosca	Il 25 novembre 1940
Costruito	5288

Le Martin B-26 Marauder Il è un bombardiere medio bimotore della seconda guerra mondiale costruito dalla Glenn L. Martin Company a Middle River, Maryland (appena ad est di Baltimora) dal 1941 al 1945. Utilizzato per la prima volta nel Teatro del Pacifico all'inizio del 1942, fu utilizzato anche nel Teatro Mediterraneo e nell'Europa occidentale.

fonte: B-26 Marauder su Wikipedia

B-26G Marauder
Fotografo	Inconsapevole
Localizzazione	Inconsapevole
Foto	38

B-26G Marauder 1

B-26G Marauder 2

B-26G Marauder 3

B-26G Marauder 4

B-26G Marauder 5

B-26G Marauder 6

B-26G Marauder 7

B-26G Marauder 8

B-26G Marauder 9

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Aspetta, cerca foto B-26G Marauder per te ...

B-26 Marauder Walk Around
Fotografo	Inconsapevole
Localizzazione	Inconsapevole
Foto	16

B-26 Marauder 01

B-26 Marauder 02

B-26 Marauder 03

B-26 Marauder 04

B-26 Marauder 05

B-26 Marauder 06

B-26 Marauder 07

B-26 Marauder 08

B-26 Marauder 10

Click on a photo and use the mouse scroll to view all photos

Martin B-26 Marauder Walk Around
Fotografo	Inconsapevole
Localizzazione	Inconsapevole
Foto	83

Martin B-26 Marauder

Carica Altro...

Vedi anche:

Aspetta, cerca foto B-26G Marauder per te ...

From Infamy to Excellence

Le Martin B-26 Marauder had a rocky start. Designed for extreme speed, it featured short, stubby wings that resulted in a very high wing loading. Early in its career, this led to frequent landing accidents, earning it the terrifying nickname “The Widow Maker.” However, once pilots were properly trained on its high-speed handling, the B-26 became one of the most effective bombers of the war. By 1944, it boasted the lowest combat loss rate of any American aircraft in Europe, specializing in precision strikes against Nazi rail yards and bridges.

Attribute	Technical Specification (B-26G)
Ruolo	Bombardiere medio
Equipaggio	7 (Pilot, Co-pilot, Navigator, Bombardier, 3 Gunners)
Motori	2 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 Double Wasps (2,000 hp each)
Velocità massima	454 km/h (282 mph) at 15,000 ft
Cruise Speed	344 km/h (214 mph)
Combat Range	1,850 km (1,150 miles)
Internal Bomb Load	1,814 kg (4,000 lbs)
Armamento	11 × .50 cal Browning M2 machine guns

Design Engineering: Speed and Surface Area

The “Flying Torpedo”: The B-26’s fuselage was a perfect cigar shape, designed to minimize drag. This made it faster than most early-war fighters, but left no room for error during take-off and landing.
High Wing Loading: To achieve high speeds, the wings were made small. This meant the B-26 had to land at speeds of nearly 130 mph—unheard of at the time—which caught many rookie pilots off guard.
The “Package” Guns: Later models featured four .50 cal machine guns mounted in “packages” on the sides of the fuselage. This allowed the pilot to act as a strafer, using the bomber’s speed to suppress enemy flak during low-level runs.
Increased Wing Incidence: To help with the landing issues, engineers eventually increased the wing’s angle (incidence) and span in the B-26B and G models, which improved lift and safety without sacrificing too much speed.

Operational History: Breaking the Reich

The “Bridge Busters”: In the lead-up to D-Day, B-26 squadrons were tasked with isolating the Normandy beachhead. They became so proficient at destroying bridges that they were nicknamed the “Bridge Busters,” cutting off German reinforcements with surgical precision.
Battle of Midway: The B-26 saw early action in the Pacific as a torpedo bomber. During the Battle of Midway, B-26s were the first to attack the Japanese carrier fleet, flying through a wall of fire to drop their torpedoes.
“Flak-Bait”: The most famous B-26, named Flak-Bait, survived a record **202 combat missions** over Europe. Despite returning with hundreds of holes on multiple occasions, it never failed to bring its crew home. Its fuselage is currently preserved in the Smithsonian.
The Marauder vs. The Mitchell: While the B-25 Mitchell was easier to fly and more famous for the Doolittle Raid, the B-26 was faster and better armored, making it the preferred choice for the high-intensity air war over occupied France.