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Posted: 4/17/2024 12:04:27 PM EDT
[#1]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By sgthatred: B-26 Marauder serial number 42-107566 hit by flak during an attack on a railway bridge near Marzabotto Italy, limping home July 10 1944. https://i.imgur.com/LJJE43h.jpeg https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44742339/philip_a-iannotta |
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Posted: 4/17/2024 1:28:22 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Starboard aileron all the way up, pilot is resisting a roll to port. Didn't make it, she went into an uncontrollable spin that trapped the crew, all six KIA https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44742339/philip_a-iannotta |
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Posted: 4/18/2024 9:53:15 AM EDT
[#3]
Is it me or is there an unusually large amount of documentation of B-26 engines being blown off?
B-26 bomber snap rolls out of control after flak hit blows off an engine imgur video clip  Attached File Attached File-------------  Attached File Attached FileVicious G forces would have pinned the crew in place  Attached File |
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Posted: 4/18/2024 1:44:40 PM EDT
[#4]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Is it me or is there an unusually large amount of documentation of B-26 engines being blown off? B-26 bomber snap rolls out of control after flak hit blows off an engine imgur video clip https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/b-26b_HIT_BY_FLAK_1944_jpg-3191043.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/b-26b_HIT_BY_FLAK_1944_2_jpg-3191044.JPG ------------- https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/b-26_engine_blown_off_jpg-3191079.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/B-26_bomber_toulon_France_jpg-3191046.JPG Vicious G forces would have pinned the crew in place https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/b-26_bailout_plan_jpg-3191072.JPG Probably has to do with Flak accuracy since the mediums bombed from such lower altitude. Just my guess. |
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Posted: 4/19/2024 9:14:32 AM EDT
[#5]
Hit by flak over France, January 1944
 Attached File Attached FileAugust 1944, bombing a rail bridge at Cherisy, France, Purrin' Panther has an engine torn off by a bomb dropped from above and rolls into Ill Wind. Of the two crews only the pilot of Ill Wind, Ralph H. Boyd, survived. Boyd lived for several months with a French family as a deaf mute relative before he could be smuggled to England. Boyd was later killed in a crash while piloting a C-54 in the Berlin Airlift.  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 4/19/2024 10:12:40 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Gopher: Have fighter pilots always been crazy? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/1670/hell_hawks_jpg-3189861.JPG Holy crap he was real!  Attached File |
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Posted: 4/20/2024 8:48:46 PM EDT
[#7]
 U.S. WW2 Submarine Torpedo Guidance Gyro Spun Up to 20,000-rpm #military #navy #vintage #engineering |
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Posted: 4/20/2024 9:45:52 PM EDT
[#8]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Dave_Markowitz: Holy crap he was real! https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/54763/gremlin_jpg-3192025.JPG 
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USA
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Posted: 4/21/2024 12:33:05 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Is it me or is there an unusually large amount of documentation of B-26 engines being blown off? |
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Posted: 4/22/2024 10:29:59 AM EDT
[#10]
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Posted: 4/22/2024 1:04:07 PM EDT
[#11]
I can't think of a prettier WW2 bomber than the B-26. Very classic lines.
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Posted: 4/22/2024 2:03:17 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By lew: I can't think of a prettier WW2 bomber than the B-26. Very classic lines. Agree and those big R-2800 monsters make it look ready to kick ass    |
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Posted: 4/23/2024 9:15:04 AM EDT
[#13]
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IN, USA
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Posted: 4/23/2024 9:27:48 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/B-26-1944-col_zps59928572_jpg-3195079.JPG What is the duck a symbol for? I’ve not seen that one yet. |
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WY, USA
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Posted: 4/23/2024 9:40:21 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Starboard aileron all the way up, pilot is resisting a roll to port. Didn't make it, she went into an uncontrollable spin that trapped the crew, all six KIA https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44742339/philip_a-iannotta Boy, she was not well liked by a LOT of pilots. The only derogative nickname that I remember her being dubbed with was "widowmaker". But, according the Wikipedia she was know as the "Martin Murderer", "Flying Coffin", "B-Dash-Crash", "Flying Prostitute" (so-named because it was so fast and had "no visible means of support", referring to its small wings) and "Baltimore Whore" (a reference to the city where Martin was based). I remember comments about "ironing board wings". For a time in 1942, pilots in training believed that the B-26 could not be flown on one engine. This was disproved by several experienced pilots, including Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, who flew demonstration flights at MacDill Army Air Field, which featured takeoffs and landings with only one engine. Also, 17 Women Airforce Service Pilots were trained to demonstrate the B-26, in an attempt to "shame" male pilots into the air.[11] - Wikipedia |
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Posted: 4/23/2024 10:45:48 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#16]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By NotMrWizard: What is the duck a symbol for? I've not seen that one yet.  Attached FileMedium bombers could fly the same profile as heavy bombers and look identical on radar, so mediums sometimes flew a diversionary raid that appeared to be heavies aimed at Berlin or another key deep target, causing the Germans to launch a maximum effort interception, then turned away and bombed something closer and lighter defended in France. Newly arrived green units didn't even necessarily bomb anything, they'd go just far enough to coax fighters off the ground then run for home, use it as a moderately dangerous training mission, which was worth a duck instead of a bomb mission mark. While many German interceptors were drawn out of position or had to RTB for fuel or were being ambushed by escort fighters the heavy bombers could get past them with reduced losses. And not every heavy raid had an accompanying diversionary mission, so the Germans would always be second guessing themselves and less likely to commit all of their interceptors correctly. Green or tired heavy units would also fly diversions. |
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MD, USA
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Posted: 4/23/2024 12:01:13 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Abbaton: Boy, she was not well liked by a LOT of pilots. The only derogative nickname that I remember her being dubbed with was "widowmaker". But, according the Wikipedia she was know as the "Martin Murderer", "Flying Coffin", "B-Dash-Crash", "Flying Prostitute" (so-named because it was so fast and had "no visible means of support", referring to its small wings) and "Baltimore Whore" (a reference to the city where Martin was based). I remember comments about "ironing board wings". For a time in 1942, pilots in training believed that the B-26 could not be flown on one engine. This was disproved by several experienced pilots, including Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, who flew demonstration flights at MacDill Army Air Field, which featured takeoffs and landings with only one engine. Also, 17 Women Airforce Service Pilots were trained to demonstrate the B-26, in an attempt to "shame" male pilots into the air.[11] - Wikipedia Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Abbaton: Originally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Starboard aileron all the way up, pilot is resisting a roll to port. Didn't make it, she went into an uncontrollable spin that trapped the crew, all six KIA https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44742339/philip_a-iannotta Boy, she was not well liked by a LOT of pilots. The only derogative nickname that I remember her being dubbed with was "widowmaker". But, according the Wikipedia she was know as the "Martin Murderer", "Flying Coffin", "B-Dash-Crash", "Flying Prostitute" (so-named because it was so fast and had "no visible means of support", referring to its small wings) and "Baltimore Whore" (a reference to the city where Martin was based). I remember comments about "ironing board wings". For a time in 1942, pilots in training believed that the B-26 could not be flown on one engine. This was disproved by several experienced pilots, including Colonel Jimmy Doolittle, who flew demonstration flights at MacDill Army Air Field, which featured takeoffs and landings with only one engine. Also, 17 Women Airforce Service Pilots were trained to demonstrate the B-26, in an attempt to "shame" male pilots into the air.[11] - Wikipedia The big problem wasn't the B-26, it was the training. The twin engine aircraft that they were training in were so far from the performance of the B-26, that the pilots had no experience to draw on. They improved the training and Martin added a few feet to each wing. |
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Posted: 4/23/2024 12:22:53 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: "Decoy" https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/8958ea411b7123772468370ce75534c2_jpg-3195785.JPG Medium bombers could fly the same profile as heavy bombers and look identical on radar, so mediums sometimes flew a diversionary raid that appeared to be heavies aimed at Berlin or another key deep target, causing the Germans to launch a maximum effort interception, then turned away and bombed something closer and lighter defended in France. Newly arrived green units didn't even necessarily bomb anything, they'd go just far enough to coax fighters off the ground then run for home, use it as a moderately dangerous training mission, which was worth a duck instead of a bomb mission mark. While many German interceptors were drawn out of position or had to RTB for fuel or were being ambushed by escort fighters the heavy bombers could get past them with reduced losses. And not every heavy raid had an accompanying diversionary mission, so the Germans would always be second guessing themselves and less likely to commit all of their interceptors correctly. Green or tired heavy units would also fly diversions. Learn something new everyday. Thanks! |
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IN, USA
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Posted: 4/23/2024 12:38:46 PM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Brundoggie: Learn something new everyday. Thanks! Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Brundoggie: Originally Posted By Mal_means_bad: "Decoy" https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/8958ea411b7123772468370ce75534c2_jpg-3195785.JPG Medium bombers could fly the same profile as heavy bombers and look identical on radar, so mediums sometimes flew a diversionary raid that appeared to be heavies aimed at Berlin or another key deep target, causing the Germans to launch a maximum effort interception, then turned away and bombed something closer and lighter defended in France. Newly arrived green units didn't even necessarily bomb anything, they'd go just far enough to coax fighters off the ground then run for home, use it as a moderately dangerous training mission, which was worth a duck instead of a bomb mission mark. While many German interceptors were drawn out of position or had to RTB for fuel or were being ambushed by escort fighters the heavy bombers could get past them with reduced losses. And not every heavy raid had an accompanying diversionary mission, so the Germans would always be second guessing themselves and less likely to commit all of their interceptors correctly. Green or tired heavy units would also fly diversions. Learn something new everyday. Thanks! Agreed! Thank you! |
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Posted: 4/23/2024 7:38:31 PM EDT
[#20]
a Supermarine Spitfire as it maneuvers alongside a V-1 in an attempt to deflect (wing tip) it from its target.
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Posted: 4/24/2024 12:21:45 AM EDT
[#21]
My stepfather always said the B26 looked like someone stuck a razor blade through a cigar.
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Posted: 4/24/2024 3:39:20 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By birdbarian: I've never seen the long version. Interesting to see the guy carrying the .30 belt fed on a sling with a glove on his left hand. I presume so he could hip fire it. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By birdbarian: Originally Posted By dedreckon: Colorized film of the famous battle in Cologne between a Panzer and several US Army Shermans and an M26. Not sure this is new, but new to me (in color)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1unrEkgflsoI've never seen the long version. Interesting to see the guy carrying the .30 belt fed on a sling with a glove on his left hand. I presume so he could hip fire it. At first I thought it was one of the shoulder stock machine guns - M1919A6, but yeah, he's just slinging it and looks like he's ready to shoot from the hip. I didn't see his a-gunner with a tripod. A6:The M1919A6 in action with the 77th Infantry Division on Okinawa during 1945. The gun carries the mounting pintle for the M2 tripod. Image: NARA 
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Posted: 4/25/2024 6:12:32 PM EDT
[#23]
B-26 tail gun evolution.
Initial production had a single .30 cal on a pintle. The twin clamshell canopy would clamp down on the barrel while in transit, gunner would open canopy to fire when encountering fighters. First upgrade was from a single .30 to a single .50 in the B-26A.  Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 4/25/2024 6:14:21 PM EDT
[#24]
Canopy halves retracted inside. Shoulder and crotch armor plates, receiver of the gun protected chest, mostly. Legs exposed.
 Attached FileProtective rubber edging on the armor plates, nice detail.  Attached FileShoulder plates could fold back. For gun installation, manipulation, or a wider firing arc?  Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 4/25/2024 6:16:39 PM EDT
[#25]
B-26B upgraded tail gun to pintle twin .50's, new bubble canopy, armored compartment.
 Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 4/25/2024 6:19:20 PM EDT
[#26]
Late B-26B's were equipped with twin .50's in a Bell M-6 power turret with a reflector gunsight (these also had the lengthened wings and bigger tail that made the aircraft easier to fly)
 Attached File Attached File Attached FileFlash hiders, night operations?  Attached File Attached FileSome B's had a shell collector pan installed below the tail gun. This one painted over the plexiglass.  Attached FileBlown out by a 20mm hit  Attached File |
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Posted: 4/25/2024 6:21:52 PM EDT
[#27]
The B-26F and G replaced the clear plexiglass hemisphere turret covers with a presumably more economical canvas covered Bell M-6A turret with shell collector.
 Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 4/25/2024 6:38:04 PM EDT
[#28]
I know this is going to sound stupid - why the shell collector?
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Posted: 4/25/2024 6:43:19 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By armoredman: I know this is going to sound stupid - why the shell collector? I believe it was to prevent spent brass for getting ingested by other aircraft props in the formation |
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Posted: 4/25/2024 7:57:59 PM EDT
[#30]
Makes sense
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Posted: 4/29/2024 11:37:27 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#31]
Original film says flak damage, but I can also imagine .50 cases ejected into the slipstream doing something like this. Note position in formation.
 Attached File Attached File"The Marauder internal bomb load was between 3,000 and 4,800 depending on the model and range. The forward bay would hold any of the following permutations: two-2,000-pound bombs, four 1,100-pound bombs, six 600-pound bombs, eight 300-pound bombs, or twenty 100-pounders. The smaller rear bay could hold: two 600-pound bombs, six 300-pound bombs, or ten 100-pounders. With the Army Air Corp abandoning the requirement for carrying a total of thirty 100-pounders, the aft bomb bay was sealed up from the B-26B-45-MA/B-26C-45-MO variants and onward." The aft bomb bay (between the wing and dorsal turret) became ammo storage for the tail gun. Extra long belts were fed to the tail through track guides along the sides of the fuselage.  Attached FileLooking forward from the tail gun hatch.  Attached FileLooking aft. Tail gun belt guides, waist gun hatches stowed, waist gun belts now feed from cans mounted above.  Attached File Attached File Attached FileControl cable almost fatally parted by flak near a track guide. Although greatly increasing ammo supply, it is predictable that running the belt halfway down the fuselage made them much more vulnerable to damage that could disable the tail gun.  Attached FileThis ugly hit took out every rear and side firing gun, no doubt inflicting heavy casualties; impressive the plane survived, though.  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/2/2024 4:21:46 PM EDT
[#32]
A Finnish soldier sees the town of Rovaniemi burned down by the Germans. October 14, 1944
 Attached File |
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Posted: 5/4/2024 7:50:19 PM EDT
[#33]
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Posted: 5/10/2024 7:57:13 PM EDT
[#34]
Eastern Front, German war correspondent with a boot Broomhandle Mauser.
 Attached FileThat's a bulky pistol for a boot. I've noticed that a lot of German boots were roomy as hell though. |
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Posted: 5/13/2024 8:49:54 AM EDT
[#35]
Marauder 344th Bombardment Group (Medium) D-Day first mission formation chart
 Attached FileMarauders over the Normandy fleet  Attached File Attached File Attached FileSword Beach  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 5/13/2024 9:40:06 AM EDT
[#36]
Some late war Marauder units took off and landed in line six-abreast and flew missions in six-ship boxes
 Attached FileLine six-abreast formation takeoffs by 440th Bomb Squadron, 319th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force in Sardinia  Attached File Attached FileSix-ship boxes  Attached File Attached FileVertical stacking of boxes  Attached FileReturning boxes peel off for landing  Attached FileLanding in line six-abreast in Tunisia  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/13/2024 10:13:03 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Ming_The_Merciless]
[#37]
Not many people know, but the Martin B-26 was one of the only USAAF bombers that could be armed with a torpedo against enemy vessels.
 Four were launched from Midway island to attack the heavily defended Japanese carrier task force, but without fighter protection, only two badly riddled Marauders staggered back at Midway where they were written off. |
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Posted: 5/13/2024 1:44:33 PM EDT
[#38]
Originally Posted By Ming_The_Merciless: Not many people know, but the Martin B-26 was one of the only USAAF bombers that could be armed with a torpedo against enemy vessels. https://hushkit.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/dominion-revenge-with-torpedo.jpg?w=1024 Four were launched from Midway island to attack the heavily defended Japanese carrier task force, but without fighter protection, only two badly riddled Marauders staggered back at Midway where they were written off. On Adak Island, Aleutians, Nov 1942  Attached FilePort Moresby, New Guinea, 1942  Attached File"Tojo's Jinx", New Guinea  Attached FileHenderson Field, Guadalcanal, 1943  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/13/2024 2:43:32 PM EDT
[#39]
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Posted: 5/15/2024 11:05:12 AM EDT
[#40]
As a result of this thread I have an enhanced appreciation for the B-26 and the crews that flew it.
Thanks guys !! |
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Posted: 5/15/2024 2:00:18 PM EDT
[#41]
Pilot's manual illustration of six ship flight/four flight diamond
 Attached File Attached FileDestroyed by flak in formation, Pas-de-Calais  Attached FileI found much higher res originals of that formation collision sequence I posted awhile back  Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 5/16/2024 9:05:47 AM EDT
[#42]
 Attached File Attached FileDamaged by debris from another bomber in formation that exploded from a flak hit, March 1945  Attached FileTight four ship boxes in a diamond  Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 5/16/2024 4:27:58 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Leisure_Shoot]
[#43]
USS Ranger's port forward funnel being raised or lowered
The funnels were on the edge of the flight deck and could be tilted off the deck during landing operations. I believe those two thick angled pieces in front of the vertical funnel are the deck plates that hinged down to make a solid deck surface?  |
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Posted: 5/16/2024 4:35:21 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Colt653]
[#44]
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Posted: 5/16/2024 6:04:24 PM EDT
[#45]
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Posted: 5/17/2024 7:50:48 PM EDT
[Last Edit: ACDer]
[#47]
An interesting British poster. Note the B-26 is called the Baltimore, a name actually given to another Martin Bomber, and the P-39 is called the Caribou.
 Attached File |
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Posted: 5/18/2024 6:02:23 PM EDT
[#48]
That would be an awesome poster for the man cave.
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Posted: 5/19/2024 4:59:49 AM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By armoredman: That would be an awesome poster for the man cave. 
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Posted: 5/20/2024 10:51:52 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#50]
B-26B Marauder 20mm hit on the tailgun
 Attached FileThe gunner was badly wounded but survived  Attached FileTail gun ammo track destroyed by light flak hit  Attached FileWind baffles for the waist guns. They're often not fitted, perhaps in disagreement over drag vs. gunner efficiency.  Attached FileAppears to be a third gun at the waist position, possibly an additional stinger through the deck aimed straight down and back (there's a belly hatch there in some models). Notice the B-model tail guns have limited depression, and I don't think the waist guns could twist enough to cover a narrow zone directly below the centerline, perhaps they added a stinger in the field to compensate. Also notice the navigator's head in the astrodome at left. The dome could be retracted to reduce drag, and was deleted in later models to save money.  Attached FileAt one point the B model aft bomb bay doors had clear panels and ports to mount .30 cal guns, but they weren't used in practice and were eliminated. Seems like it would have been an extraordinarily unnerving position to be posted at, I wouldn't be surprised if they were eliminated because crew simply refused to do it.  Attached File |
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