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Martin
B-26 Marauder Bomber |
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The B26 was one of several Medium Bombers which saw service for
the U.S. in World War II. Of these the Marauder had the most
troubled history - it survived no less than four official
inquiries attempting to have the plane grounded and production
stopped. The B26 survived all of them, and finally proved itself
by recording the lowest loss rate of any American Medium Bomber in
the War. The Marauder was a difficult plane to fly, in fact the
non-combatants ferry service, which flew the plane to the front,
refused to fly the plane for a time. The B26 had a high take off
and landing speed due to its high wing loading, and suffered a
high accident rate. Only a very experienced pilot could bring the
plane down successfully on one engine.
Although the Marauder did not make
its first flight until November 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 WW
II, it had flown more than 110,000 sorties and had dropped 150,000
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.
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B-26 Marauder
"Yankee Guerrilla"
From our Premier Series. 1/41st scale. 18"
wingspan by 17" long.
No. AEB4D-YG. Only $174.95 |
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B-26
Marauder "Black Bandit"
From our Standard Series.
1/48th scale. 15" wingspan by 13.25" long.
No. AEB4D-S1. Only $119.95 |
B-26
Marauder "Zebra Wings"
From our Standard Series.
1/48th scale. 15" wingspan by 13.25" long.
No. AEB4D-S2. Only $119.95 |
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