The Martin B-26 Marauder was a world War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L.Martin Compagny. First used in the Pacific Theater in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe.
After entering service with the U.S. Army, the aircraft received the reputation of a "Widowmaker" due to the early models' high rate of accidents during takeoff and landings. The Marauder had to be flown by exact airspeeds, particularly on final approach and when one engine was out. The 150 mph (241 km/h) speed on short final was intimidating to pilots who were used to much slower speeds, and whenever they slowed down below what the manual stated, the aircraft would stall and crash.
The B-26 became a safer aircraft once crews were re-trained and after aerodynamics modifications (increase of wing span and incidence, to give better take off performance, and a larger fin and rudder). After aerodynamic and design changes, the aircraft distinguished itself as "the chief bombardment weapon on the Western Front" according to a USAAF dispatch from 1946. The Marauder ended World War II with the lowest loss rate of any USAAF bomber.
A total of 5,288 were produced between February 1941 and March 1945; 522 of these were flown by the RAF and the SAAF. By the time the USAF was created as an independent service separate from the Army in 1947, all Martin B-26s had been retired from US service
Drie uitvoeringen mogelijk;
- Redlight Rosie of the 587th Bomber Squadron, 394 Bomber Group, 1944, B-26F-1MA.
- Lak-a-Nookie of the 459th Bomber Squadron, 344 Bomber Group, 1944, B-26G-1MA.
- ROUND TOO! of the 459th Bomber Squadron, 344th Bomber Group, 1944, B-26G-10MA.
Aantal onderdelen: 123.
Afmeting:
- Lengte 241 mm
- spanwijdte 286 mm
