Not many B-26 Marauders survived for long after WWII – the USAAF was well supplied with Douglas Invaders for the medium bomber mission, and after the last Marauders had left service the Invader received the Martin aircraft’s B-26 designation. The NMUSAF’s B-26G, one of three G-models remaining, is a combat veteran of WWII, seeing action with the Free French in the final stages of the war. It remained in France, serving as an instructional airframe with Air France until the summer of 1965. It is currently displayed as a USAAF aircraft of the 387th Bombardment Group.
The image highlights the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp engine cowling contour, cowl flap gap, nacelle exhaust port, lower fuselage-mounted .50-caliber gun package, wing undersurface riveting, main gear wheel, and a torpedo display in the background.
Low-angle detail view showing the starboard side-mounted fuselage gun blisters (pack housings) and forward machine gun barrels on a Martin B-26G Marauder (s/n 43-34581) on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF). The image highlights the two aerodynamic fairings housing fixed forward-firing Browning M2 .50-caliber machine guns, perforated barrel jackets, and propeller blade tip with yellow warning paint.Low-angle detail view showing the dorsal power turret and mid-fuselage national insignia on a Martin B-26G Marauder (s/n 43-34581) on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF). The image highlights the clear Plexiglas dome, twin .50-caliber machine gun barrels, Olive Drab over Neutral Gray camouflage, white national star-and-bar insignia with blue border, partial code lettering, and a suspended aircraft overhead in the background.Low-angle front view of the nose landing gear assembly and nose wheel well of a Martin B-26 Marauder on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF). The image highlights the heavy single-wheel oleo strut, torque links, hydraulic lines, open nose gear doors, lower forward fuselage contour, and Neutral Gray undersurface paint scheme, with an aerial torpedo ordnance display visible in the background.Low-angle detail view showing the open bi-fold bomb bay door mechanism and lower fuselage contour of a Martin B-26 Marauder on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (NMUSAF). The image highlights the two-section folding door geometry, zinc chromate green interior structural truss framing, door actuation linkages, and Olive Drab over Neutral Gray camouflage finish.
B-26 Further Reading
Martin ad, with art depicting a B-26 from underneath Aviation February 1941 Structural sketch, from aft, of a B-26 main gear Aviation September 1944 p.183
Ad for Curtiss Electric propellers, with a color B-26 image Aviation May 1941
Photo: closeup of a Westinghouse 19B turbojet fitted on a B-26 Aviation News July 22, 1946 p.31
“How To Make B-26 a Luxury Ship” Aviation Week May 11, 1953 includes images of VIP interior
Photo : Marauder N3E Air Classics May 1974 p.76
“Marauder: Mr. Martin’s Mean Machine” Air International January 1988 Includes an in-flight shot of the first aircraft, B-26C cutaway diagram, and a B-26B-2 3-view.
Ivor Ramsden Review of the 1/72 Marauder Mk.IA kit from Valom Scale Aviation Modeller August 2008 p.734
David Doyle “The Martin B-26” Includes a color profile of the first Marauder AIR Modeller Oct/Nov 2010
David Pawski “Magnificent Marauder” Warbirds International October/November 2014 MAPS Air Museum B-26 restoration
David Donald, editor American Airplanes of World War II p.178-181: B-26C cutaway, color profile of a B-26G in night intruder scheme
