B-26 Marauder at War PDF Download

Author: Jerry Scutts
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781855326378
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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The medium bomber 'workhorse' of the Ninth Air Force, Martin's much-maligned B-26 Marauder recovered from its poor start with the Eighth Air Force to go on and equip no less than eight bomber groups in the ETO. Although initially dubbed 'the widow maker', a change of tactics from low- to medium-level bombing for the Marauder soon improved the crews' chances of survival – indeed, by war's end it boasted a lower loss-per-sortie ratio than any other twin-engined bomber in the USAAF. This volume covers all aspects of Marauder operations in Western Europe during World War II (1939-1945), featuring first hand accounts from surviving B-26 crews, plus an analysis of the tactics employed.

Author: Mark Styling
Publisher: Osprey Publishing
ISBN: 9781846033070
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Osprey's examination of the B-26 Marauder Units' participation in World War II (1939-1945). The revolutionary design of the B-26 and its associated flight characteristics initially gained it a reputation as a 'widow maker' receiving nicknames such as 'The Baltimore Whore' and 'The Flying Prostitute' - both a reference to its short wingspan, i.e. no visible means of support! Gradual improvements to the design and the development of effective combat tactics enabled these units to make the B-26 a very effective and safe combat aircraft; it went on to play a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy, France and Germany. The bombing accuracy of the B-26s was unrivalled and they were therefore selected to bomb targets such as the Florentine rail network. Lt General Eaker MAAF CO said. 'When we teach the B-17s to bomb like the B-26s we will have accomplished our job'. Hastily trained on an airplane with a bad reputation and rushed into combat in North Africa, the MTO B-26 groups went on to gain an enviable reputation for bombing accuracy and low combat loss rate. Performing the dangerous close support and interdiction roles, the units played a major role in the defeat of Axis forces in North Africa, Italy and Germany. They proved the B-26 to be a highly reliable, effective medium bomber - indeed, an MTO-based B-26 was the first ever USAAF bomber to reach the 100-mission mark. It was the three MTO Bombardment Groups that established the Marauder as one of the USAAF's truly great aircraft of World War II.

Author: Martyn Chorlton
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
ISBN: 1780966075
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 136

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Book Description
One of the most underrated medium bombers of the Second World War, the Martin B-26 Marauder never fully managed to shake off an underserved early reputation as a dangerous aircraft to fly. Deemed superior to all other designs on the table at the time, almost a 1,000 had been ordered before the aircraft first took to the air November 1940. From late 1941 the first B-26s became operational in the Pacific, followed by the Mediterranean, but it is in the European theatre that the type was most prolific. It was particularly during the Normandy Landings and later the advance beyond 'the bulge' into Germany, were the B-26s medium level tactical ability shone through. The Marauder also served with the RAF, SAAF and Free French Air Force in the Mediterranean and also as part of the little credited Balkan Air Force in support of Tito's Partisans in Yugoslavia. Sadly the B-26 was unfairly treated at the beginning of its career and even more so at the end as many of the 5,200+ aircraft built were scrapped only days after the end of the war. A great aircraft in many respects the B-26 deserves to be in a better place.

Author: Louis S. Rehr
Publisher: McFarland
ISBN: 9780786473021
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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The B-26 Marauder was a formidable weapon in the campaign to defeat Hitler's armies, and, in the words of his first copilot, "Louis Rehr "was the best there was" flying it. This memoir, which benefits from forty years of research on the combat history of the B-26, contributions from comrades, and an extensive collection of rare photographs, describes Rehr's experiences, including five night-bombing missions he volunteered to fly in 1944 and accounts of attacks by Me-262 jets in late April of 1945. Rehr, a squadron commander with the 323rd Bombardment Group, earned 12 air medals, five battle stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star.

Author: Mantelli - Brown - Kittel - Graf
Publisher: Edizioni R.E.I.
ISBN: 237297324X
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 130

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Author: Robert Forsyth
Publisher: Specialty Press (MN)
ISBN: 9780952686743
Category : Marauder (Bomber)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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A detailed account of the World War II air battles that occurred over the skies of southern Germany during the last months of World War II, between US Marauder bombers and German Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters.

Author: William Wolf
Publisher: Schiffer Military History
ISBN: 9780764347412
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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In his fifth book in The Ultimate Look series, Dr. Wolf again brings the same degree of meticulous research to describe this unappreciated and misunderstood B-26 medium bomber. This massive, comprehensive volume is the first to give the reader a definitive description of this neglected bomber, its development, testing, and manufacture. The role of the enigmatic aviation icon Glenn L. Martin is described in the development of the American aviation industry and the Marauder. The author made extensive use of the massive document and photo collections of the Marauder Archives at Akron and Tucson, and the Air Force collection at the NMUSAF. Martin Company design and production information and flight and test evaluations, along with original Company Flight, Parts, and Maintenance Manuals, and rare archival microfilm of original material were also used. The author was given unprecedented access to the family records of B-26 designer Peyton Magruder. The text is complemented by archival photos and drawings, and new color photos of the Marauders at the NMUSAF, Fantasy of Flight, and MAPS Museum.

Author: Stan Walsh
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1546221654
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 194

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Book Description
Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar Chantilly, Virginia Two complete and separate design cycles chronicles our story – The B-26 Goes to War. War fever caused authorities to forego prototype testing – the B-26 went straight from drawing board to battle. The 22nd Bomb Group, with short 65 ft. wingspan B-26s entered combat in the Southwest Pacific. The Army’s Torpedo Challenge chronicles exploits in the realm of pure fantasy. Getting-it-right – Navy torpedoes on Army bombers – is intense, vivid and entertaining. Flying the “straight” uncovered deficiencies. A modified B-26B emerged with a 71 ft. wingspan. These were earmarked for combat in North Africa and Europe. For the Flak-Bait story see Appendix H. The ultramodern Martin B-26 prototype medium bomber first flown 25 November 1940 achieved a top speed of 315 mph, fastest of any U.S. bomber and narrowing the gap between its speed and that of existing Army pursuit planes. Innovations include: self-sealing gas tanks, armor plating and a full bomb load of two tons.

Author: Kenneth T. Brown
Publisher: iBooks
ISBN: 9780743479295
Category : A-26 Invader (Bomber)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Troop, supply and armor convoys, bridges, road and rail networks were all fair game for the low-flying Marauder B-26 medium bomber. But flying below 12,000 feet against enemy positions had its cost. This is the moving account of one man's experiences in the tactical air war over Europe in World War II. A Quaker by birth and a pacifist by nature, author Ken Brown nonetheless felt it his duty to enlist in the fight against fascism. Little did he expect that he would find himself in the plexiglass nose of a low-flying Marauder, surrounded by enemy anti-aircraft flak bursts. "Marauder Man is also an important historical record of one of the most remarkable and unsung American warplanes in World War II--the Marauder B-26 medium bomber that, in the words of General Dwight D. Eisenhower, "made possible the decision to land on continent." In vivid prose, Ken Brown brings the thrilling story of the B-26 and the men who flew it, to life.

Author: J. K. Havener
Publisher: Southern Heritage Press (FL)
ISBN: 9780941072274
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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