Armament
Typical armament for the Marauder consisted of well-placed defensive machine gun positions throughout the fuselage. No fewer than twelve heavy 0.50 caliber machine guns could defend the aircraft from nose to tail. The rear-mounted dorsal turret contained a pair of 0.50 caliber machine guns as did the tail gun position - the former position possibly offering up the best view of the action above while the latter position charged with the very important task of fending off rear attackers. A ventral gun position - fitting a 0.30 caliber or 0.50 caliber machine gun - was found on some models while, traditionally, this was replaced by twin beam gun pod positions located on either side of the lower front fuselage, a move that would bring the gun total to 12 and allow for lethal strafing runs. A nose gun position was also commonplace and could fit either a 0.30 caliber or 0.50 caliber machine gun as needed. Internally, the Marauder could carry upwards of 4,000 to 5,000lb of ordnance in the form of drop bombs or traditional strike sorties or a single torpedo for anti-shipping duty.
Cockpit
The cockpit was noted as having a utilitarian look and feel - sparse in contrast to other American bombers - consisting of all the necessary controls and gauges in a neatly organized arrangement. The pilot sat in an armored-plated position with access to all controls while the instrument panel ran about three quarters of the width of the cockpit, stopping at about the co-pilot's left knee. As may be expected, both pilot positions had control columns situated before them. A center console held the throttle, propeller and mixture controls within easy reach of both pilot and co-pilot. Landing gear and flap controls were positioned to the rear of the console.
Operational Service
The 22nd Bomb Group was the first American air group to receive the B-26, this at Langley Field in February of 1941. This initial group consisted of B-26 and B-26A models. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the official declaration of war on the Empire by America, the 22nd was the only group with B-26's in stock and were expectedly pressed into service in the South West Pacific. The 22nd BG arrived in Brisbane, Australia after a short stop in Muroc, California, becoming part of the US Fifth Air Force, and was soon put to task with engaging Japanese targets beginning with Rabaul on April 5th, 1942. Other attacks followed and a flight of four B-26A's took part in the Battle of Midway, providing an offensive punch via torpedo strikes on enemy vessels. Despite its usefulness, the North American B-25 Mitchell - a similar twin-engine medium bomber - was finding more success and therefore more use in the theater than the B-26's. The 22nd BG was eventually upgraded with B-26B models by May of 1942. These improved Marauders allowed for continued use of the type that even included actions in along the Aleutian Island chain in 1942. During its first year of action, B-26's were generally restricted to the Pacific Theater but eventually saw extended use - and better results - in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Marauders were used in anger during the Operation Torch landings in North Africa. In this action, Marauders proved their worth, flying with bomb group elements of the 12th Air Force. The B-26 under the RAF Middle East Command in North Africa were noted by their designation of Marauder Mk I (B-26A), Marauder Mk IA (B-26B), Marauder Mk II (B-26C/B-26F) and Marauder Mk III (B-26G). The RAF, which fielded no more than two complete squadrons of Marauders (No. 14 and No. 39) received a batch of 52 Mk I and Mk IA models while totals of Mk II's and Mk III's topped 250 and 150 respectively.
American B-26 units arrived in England by March of 1943, Though results were initially poor with low-level bombing runs, the type saw new life in medium- and high-altitude attacks. In one such case, the complete 322nd Bomber Group flying at low-level was eliminated by ground and aircraft fire in an attempted strike on Ijmuiden, forcing the hand of Allied warplanners to make changes in their approach when utilizing the potent B-26. After adoption of higher-flying bombing techniques, the B-26 was repositioned as a proven and valued stalwart of the Allied bombing campaigns throughout the rest of the war in Europe though phasing out of the type began in 1945.
In the end, the B-26 proved to be a fitting addition to the Allied air arsenal, posting an impeccable service record. B-26's went on to have the lowest combat loss rate of any American aircraft in the conflict, owing something to its stellar design but more to the crews who flew her through her 110,000 sorties.
Conclusion
The B-26 was produced to the tune of some 4,708 to 5,288 total examples when production ceased in 1945. Despite its rough origins, the Marauder was otherwise an excellent medium bomber on par with the North American B-25 Mitchells which starred in the Pacific. The B-26 was undoubtedly fast, adequately armed and could carried an excellent bombload for an aircraft of this type. Marauders and their fighting men served well in their limited role in the Pacific but more than made up for their presence in the volatile fronts of Europe and North Africa, truly becoming one of America's finest warbirds of the conflict.
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