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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:25:43 PM EDT
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/a-detailed-account-of-the-restoration-of-b-26-marauder-flak-bait-the-only-us-warplane-to-survive-200-bombing-missions-during-world-war-ii/amp/
Martin B-26 "Marauder" "Flak Bait" is undergoing a full restoration at the Smithsonian Air & Space museum. Incredible survivor of 201 combat missions & countless damage What a Plane - needed two powerful R-2800 engines just lift those Men of Steel with Huge Brass Balls.  Bigger_Hammer 
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:27:41 PM EDT
[#1]
Quoted: B-26 "Flak Bait" survivor of 2001 missions restoration that's unpossible. |
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:36:52 PM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryQuoted: that's unpossible. Sure it is, probably flew two missions every day for the entire war  or maybe it was 201 missions, which is pretty impressive in it's own right. |
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:38:33 PM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Sure it is, probably flew two missions every day for the entire war or maybe it was 201 missions, which is pretty impressive in it's own right. 200 would be very impressive, for any combat aircraft. 2001, is unpossible. 
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:45:38 PM EDT
[#4]
Neat! Thanks for sharing!
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:51:10 PM EDT
[#5]
It's been in parts for a while. I can't wait to see what they finally decide to do with her.
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:53:49 PM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted: It's been in parts for a while. I can't wait to see what they finally decide to do with her. Yeap... I remember seeing the nose on display in the Air & Space museum back in the very early 80's or so.... |
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:55:39 PM EDT
[#7]
I was in the restoration shop at Udvar Hazy, not that long ago and observed a bit of the work on her.
They have some seriously talented folks. |
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:55:51 PM EDT
[#8]
 
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Posted: 12/12/2022 11:58:11 PM EDT
[#9]
I've always been partial to the B26.
 
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:00:10 AM EDT
[#10]
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:03:00 AM EDT
[#11]
Cool plane in it's own right.
Never understood why they had both the B25 Mitchell and the B26 Marauder. You'd think they were almost the same performance wise. Did one bring more to the fight than the other? |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:15:16 AM EDT
[#12]
The B-26 was ordered off the drawing board from Martin, which was why it's introduction & early experience was difficult.
Once sorted out, it was the best Medium bomber (lowest combat loss ratio) in the USAAF. interesting factoid is that while the B-26 had an early role in the Pacific war, (four Martin B-26s flew from Midway Island in Torpedo attacks (yes you read that right) against the Japanese carriers at during the Battle of Midway) that their unforgiving high landing speeds & long takeoff distances in hot tropical air had General Kenney tell USAAF to not send anymore B-26 Marauder to the P.T.O. ) It was in the E.T.O. over Italy, France, Belgium & Germany facing the toughest fighters & best flak that the B-26 earned it's reputation as a plane that would bring it's crews back. The B-26 was faster & had a bigger bomb load than the B-26. it's performance came with higher wing loading, thus higher takeoff & landing speeds. However the B-25 was more forgiving to flu & VERY versatile & served well through the war. Including the awesome Pappy Gunn "straffer" conversions with up to Eight .50 cal MGs in the nose replacing the bombardier glass greenhouse.  Bigger_Hammer |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:15:24 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cool plane in it's own right. Never understood why they had both the B25 Mitchell and the B26 Marauder. You'd think they were almost the same performance wise. Did one bring more to the fight than the other? And why the sunk resources into developing the A-26 to fill a similar role? They had different performance and payload capacity. Mitchell looks better, IMHO. I saw a really old guy with his family yesterday and he was wearing a Doolittle's Raiders 70th anniversary reunion shirt with Pilot/Crew and a plane name on the back. I can't imagine the stories he could tell, but I didn't want to interrupt his time with his grandkids. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:17:23 AM EDT
[#14]
I'll have to stop by and check it out.
Hopefully they got that X-Wing out of there from the stupid sequel trilogy. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:18:10 AM EDT
[#15]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cool plane in it's own right. Never understood why they had both the B25 Mitchell and the B26 Marauder. You'd think they were almost the same performance wise. Did one bring more to the fight than the other? The genesis from B25 to B26 makes sense. The Marauder was faster, could carry more etc Now trying to justify having both the B26 and A26 is a better question. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:30:47 AM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The genesis from B25 to B26 makes sense. The Marauder was faster, could carry more etc Now trying to justify having both the B26 and A26 is a better question. Douglas created their "B-26 A-26" to be a more modern & capable A-20, using new engines & tech. The Douglas A-26 got a cold shoulder in the PTO (Kenney didn't like it & requested no more be sent to the PTO). He really loved the A-20 which flew like a fighter plane (single pilot & very maneuverable) But the A-26 / B-26 would still stick it out to fly through the Korean war & even through the early part of the US Vietnam war. Bigger_Hammer |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:33:24 AM EDT
[#17]
Baltimore Whore
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:35:09 AM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Baltimore Whore "No visible means of support. "  Bigger_Hammer
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:44:38 AM EDT
[#19]
Oddly,the man who may have saved the B-26 when the USAAF was doubting it was...
... Jimmy Doolittle! Doolittle went to training bases where new pilot candidates were scared shitless of "the Widowmaker" and tales of "One a day crashed in Tampa Bay". Doolittle flew demonstration flights - including one engine low altitude barrel rolls showing what a Marauder with a capable pilot could do. Pilot trainees understood it was a hot ship that rewarded pilot proficiency. Doolittle was an amazing man. What Doolittle did with the 8th Air force to establish complete Allied Air Supremacy (unleash the fighters from close escort of bombers) was legendary leadership! Bigger_Hammer
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Posted: 12/13/2022 12:49:53 AM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Douglas created their "B-26 A-26" to be a more modern & capable A-20, using new engines & tech. The Douglas A-26 got a cold shoulder in the PTO (Kenney didn't like it & requested no more be sent to the PTO). He really loved the A-20 which flew like a fighter plane (single pilot & very maneuverable) But the A-26 / B-26 would still stick it out to fly through the Korean war & even through the early part of the US Vietnam war. Bigger_Hammer I forgot about the Havoc. Thank you I always loved the Invader. Many years ago I was a member of the group that restored the A26 that went on to be Silver Dragon. One of these days I need to go see her again. Granted I was just a kid, but I'd like to get to see her fly. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 1:47:14 AM EDT
[#21]
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Posted: 12/13/2022 3:07:40 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Douglas created their "B-26 A-26" to be a more modern & capable A-20, using new engines & tech. The Douglas A-26 got a cold shoulder in the PTO (Kenney didn't like it & requested no more be sent to the PTO). He really loved the A-20 which flew like a fighter plane (single pilot & very maneuverable) But the A-26 / B-26 would still stick it out to fly through the Korean war & even through the early part of the US Vietnam war. Bigger_Hammer I met a pilot at a Wings Over Houston airshow in 1990/91 that flew the A-26 in all three wars. He had his scrap book with pictures of him and the 8 A- 26s he flew and all the different uniforms he whore. I also met a B-29 pilot the flew it (the same B-29) in WWII and in Korea. Those guys were fascinating to talk to. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 3:19:28 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Cool plane in it's own right. Never understood why they had both the B25 Mitchell and the B26 Marauder. You'd think they were almost the same performance wise. Did one bring more to the fight than the other? The B-26 is an unfortunately overlooked & largely forgotten plane. It was difficult to fly (for reasons Bigger_Hammer elaborated upon) and I believe it was called the Widowmaker. But its performance was good. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 9:33:13 AM EDT
[#24]
Should have been preserved as is in her working clothes.
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Posted: 12/13/2022 9:43:47 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted: Douglas created their "B-26 A-26" to be a more modern & capable A-20, using new engines & tech. The Douglas A-26 got a cold shoulder in the PTO (Kenney didn't like it & requested no more be sent to the PTO). He really loved the A-20 which flew like a fighter plane (single pilot & very maneuverable) But the A-26 / B-26 would still stick it out to fly through the Korean war & even through the early part of the US Vietnam war. Bigger_Hammer My uncle flew A/B-26’s in all 3. He had some stories to tell! |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 9:51:26 AM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryCool photo |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 10:29:05 AM EDT
[#27]
I want a piece of that for a good luck charm.
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Posted: 12/13/2022 3:40:24 PM EDT
[#28]
Dad flew B-25’s, then went to B-26’s, then back to B-25’s before ending his service flying B-29’s. He said after the war he flew the A/B-26 and was very impressed. I remember dad telling me that even after the wings were lengthened there were still quite a few accidents. Dad said the biggest issue was simply the lack of training for multi engines. The pilots were fresh out of flight school and or pilots who flew transports or very little time in twin engine bombers. Most had came from flying AT-9’s, AT-10’s, and AT-17’s. Twins with no power and very easy fliers. He also said the same issues plagued the P-38, pilots with barely enough training to fly twins and not even close enough for high performance twins. With higher landing and takeoff speeds they were worlds different then what they came from. Lack of training killed pilots in P-38’s and B-26’s and this was never fully addressed.
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Posted: 12/13/2022 6:24:08 PM EDT
[#29]
Very cool.
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Posted: 12/13/2022 6:46:49 PM EDT
[#30]
5,288 airplanes built during the war
The industrial might of the USA, and that was just one plane It will never happen again though |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 6:54:31 PM EDT
[#31]
Quote HistoryWhat a cramped working space! |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 7:03:03 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted: And why the sunk resources into developing the A-26 to fill a similar role? They had different performance and payload capacity. Mitchell looks better, IMHO. I saw a really old guy with his family yesterday and he was wearing a Doolittle's Raiders 70th anniversary reunion shirt with Pilot/Crew and a plane name on the back. I can't imagine the stories he could tell, but I didn't want to interrupt his time with his grandkids. There are no Raiders left alive as of a few years ago. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 7:05:56 PM EDT
[#33]
I recall building a model of that same B26 with the flak bait decals in 1/48 scale (Monogram?) in about the late 70's.
Cool Medium bomber. They used to call the B26 "the baltimore whore" because it lacked any means of support with its thin aero wings for a bomber. While guys were training with it too they coined the phase "one a day in Tampa bay" because so many crashed in training. It was good plane in experianced hands though and I read accounts from guys in the South Pacific that simply ignored Jap zeros and out ran them because is was faster and they could tell the zero piloets were furious at them as they tried to climb and dive on them to catch them and expended all their ammo to no avail as they got smaller and smaller behind them. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 7:07:01 PM EDT
[#34]
Quote HistoryQuoted: The B-26 was ordered off the drawing board from Martin, which was why it's introduction & early experience was difficult. Once sorted out, it was the best Medium bomber (lowest combat loss ratio) in the USAAF. interesting factoid is that while the B-26 had an early role in the Pacific war, (four Martin B-26s flew from Midway Island in Torpedo attacks (yes you read that right) against the Japanese carriers at during the Battle of Midway) that their unforgiving high landing speeds & long takeoff distances in hot tropical air had General Kenney tell USAAF to not send anymore B-26 Marauder to the P.T.O. ) It was in the E.T.O. over Italy, France, Belgium & Germany facing the toughest fighters & best flak that the B-26 earned it's reputation as a plane that would bring it's crews back. The B-26 was faster & had a bigger bomb load than the B-26. it's performance came with higher wing loading, thus higher takeoff & landing speeds. However the B-25 was more forgiving to flu & VERY versatile & served well through the war. Including the awesome Pappy Gunn "straffer" conversions with up to Eight .50 cal MGs in the nose replacing the bombardier glass greenhouse. Bigger_Hammer Never mind - you got it. Doolittle's book is fantastic. Maybe one of the less discussed yet most important things he did was push for high octane avgas when he was between service stints. Fun fact - despite being a full General, Doolittle was never a Major or a Colonel. |
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Posted: 12/13/2022 7:51:34 PM EDT
[#35]
Here's a great documentry form the "wings" History/discovery channel on YT back when they actually taked about history complete with circa 1989 TV commericals on everything from new cars to new movies at the time. If you have an hour to kill and are a WWII history buff its worth the watch - Wings B26
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Posted: 12/13/2022 8:31:24 PM EDT
[#36]
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Posted: 12/16/2022 5:52:06 PM EDT
[#37]
Stopped by today, probably about my 30th time but first time since the Shake Shack opened.
Snapped a couple pics:      
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Posted: 12/16/2022 5:56:25 PM EDT
[#38]
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