B-26 Martin Marauder Papercraft Model 1:30 Scale by Stahlhart

11 Feb, 2022

B-26 Martin Marauder Papercraft Model by Stahlhart

B-26 Martin Marauder Papercraft Model

Design development

In March 1939, the US Army Air Corps began searching for a new medium bomber. Publishing Circular Proposal 39-640, required the new aircraft to have a payload of 2,000 lbs while having a top speed of 350 mph and a range of 2,000 miles. Among those who responded was the Glenn L. Martin Company which submitted the Model 179 for consideration. Created by a design team led by Peyton Magruder, the Model 179 is a shoulder-wing monoplane featuring a circular fuselage and tricycle landing gear. The aircraft is powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines suspended under the wings.

To achieve the desired performance, the wings of the aircraft are relatively small with a low aspect ratio. This results in a high wing load of 53 lbs./sq. ft. in the early variant. Capable of carrying 5,800 lbs. The Model 179 bomb had two bomb bays in the fuselage. For defense, it is armed with a twin .50 caliber. machine gun mounted on a powered back turret as well as a single .30 cal. machine gun in the nose and tail. While the initial design for the Model 179 used a twin tail configuration, this was replaced with a single fin and rudder to increase tail shooter visibility.

Presented to USAAC on June 5, 1939, the Model 179 received the highest score of all designs submitted. As a result, Martin was awarded a contract for 201 aircraft with the designation B-26 Marauder on 10 August. Since the aircraft was effectively ordered from the drawing board, there have been no prototypes. Following the implementation of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's 50,000 aircraft initiative in 1940, orders were increased to 990 aircraft even though the B-26 had not yet flown. On November 25, the first B-26 flew with test pilot Martin William K. "Ken" Ebel as controller.

B-26 Martin Marauder Papercraft Model 1:30 Scale by Stahlhart

Accident Problem

Due to the B-26's small wings and high payload, it has a relatively high landing speed of between 120 and 135 mph and a stall speed of around 120 mph. These characteristics make the aircraft challenging to fly for inexperienced pilots. Although there were only two fatal accidents in the aircraft's first year (1941), these increased dramatically as the US Air Force expanded rapidly after the United States entered World War II. As the novice flight crew struggled to study the aircraft, losses continued with 15 planes crashing at McDill Field in one 30-day period.

Due to these losses, the B-26 quickly earned the nicknames "Widowmaker", "Martin Murderer", and "B-Dash-Crash", and much of the flight crew actively worked to avoid being assigned to a Marauder-equipped unit. With B-26 crashes increasing, the plane was investigated by Senator Harry Truman's Special Committee on Investigating National Defense Programs. During the war, Martin worked to make the aircraft easier to fly, but landing and stall speeds remained high and the aircraft required a higher standard of training than the B-25 Mitchell.

Variant

B-26 Papercraft Model Variant

During the war, Martin continued to work on improving and modifying the aircraft. These improvements include efforts to make the B-26 safer, as well as increase its combat effectiveness. During its production process, 5,288 B-26s were built. The most numerous are B-26B-10 and B-26C. Essentially the same aircraft, this variant saw the aircraft armament increase to 12.50 cal. machine guns, greater wingspan, better armor, and modifications to improve handling. Most of the auxiliary machine guns face forward to allow the aircraft to carry out strafing attacks.

Operational History

B-26 Martin Marauder Papercraft Model 1:30 Scale

Despite its poor reputation with many pilots, experienced flight crews found the B-26 to be a highly effective aircraft that offered an exceptional level of survivability. The B-26 was first fought in 1942 when the 22nd Bombardment Group was deployed to Australia. They were followed by elements of the 38th Bomber Group. Four aircraft from the 38th carried out torpedo attacks against the Japanese fleet during the early stages of the Battle of Midway. The B-26 continued to fly in the Pacific until 1943 until it was withdrawn to support standardization of the B-25 in the theater in early 1944.

Across Europe, the B-26 made its mark. First seeing service in support of Operation Torch, B-26 units suffered heavy losses before transitioning from low-level to mid-altitude attacks. Flying with the Twelfth Air Force, the B-26 proved to be an effective weapon during the invasions of Sicily and Italy. In the north, the B-26 first arrived in Britain with the Eighth Air Force in 1943. Shortly thereafter, B-26 units were transferred to the Ninth Air Force. Flying from medium altitude with a proper escort, this aircraft is a very accurate bomber.

Striking with precision, the B-26 struck multiple targets before and supported the Normandy invasion. When bases in France became available, B-26s crossed the Strait and continued to attack Germany. The B-26 flew its final combat mission on 1 May 1945. After overcoming its initial problems, the Ninth Air Force's B-26 recorded the lowest loss rate in the European Theater of Operations of around 0.5%. Detained briefly after the war, the B-26 retired from American service in 1947.

During the conflict, the B-26 was used by several Allied nations including Great Britain, South Africa, and France. Dubbed the Mk I Marauder in British service, the aircraft was used extensively in the Mediterranean where it proved to be a proficient torpedo bomber. Other missions include mine laying, long-range reconnaissance, and anti-shipping strikes. Supplied under Lend-Lease, this aircraft was canceled after the war. After Operation Torch in 1942, several Free French squadrons were equipped with aircraft and supported Allied forces in Italy and during the invasion of southern France. France stopped the plane in 1947.