View source for Martin B-26 Marauder

{{Short description|1940 US medium bomber}}
{{Distinguish|text=the [[Douglas A-26 Invader]], later designated B-26}}
{{Use American English|date=October 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name= B-26 Marauder
 |image= B 26.jpg
 |caption= A US Army Air Forces Martin B-26B Marauder "Dee-Feater" (X2-A) of the 596th BS 397th BG 9th AF with [[D-Day]] [[invasion stripes]]
 |type= [[Medium bomber]]
 |national_origin = [[United States]]
 |manufacturer= [[Glenn L. Martin Company]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight= 25 November 1940
 |introduction= 1941
 |retired=
 |status= Retired
 |primary_user= [[United States Army Air Forces]]
 |more_users= [[Free French Air Force]] <br /> [[Royal Air Force]] <br /> [[South African Air Force]]
 |produced= 1941–1945
 |number_built= 5,288<ref name="deadlyduo">Mendenhall, Charles. ''Deadly Duo''. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press Publishers & Wholesalers, 1981. {{ISBN|0-933424-22-1}}.</ref>{{refn|The 5,288 serial numbers published in Mendenhall's ''Deadly Duo'' effectively refutes the lesser count of the National Air and Space Museum.|group=Note}}
 |developed_into= [[Martin XB-33|XB-33 Super Marauder]] (unbuilt)
}}
[[File:United States Army Air Forces Recruiting Poster - 1.jpg|thumb|Army Air Forces recruiting poster featuring B-26 Marauders]]

The '''Martin B-26 Marauder''' was an American twin-engined [[medium bomber]] that saw extensive service during [[World War II]]. The B-26 was built at two locations: [[Baltimore, Maryland]], and [[Omaha, Nebraska]], by the [[Glenn L. Martin Company]].

First used in the [[Asiatic-Pacific Theater|Pacific Theater]] of [[World War II]] in early 1942, it was also used in the [[Mediterranean Theater of Operations|Mediterranean Theater]] and in the [[European Theater of Operations, United States Army|European Theater]] from bases in England and, following [[Normandy landings|D-Day]], on the European continent providing tactical support to advancing Allied troops.

After entering service with the [[United States Army]] aviation units, the [[Fixed-wing aircraft|aircraft]] quickly received the reputation of a "[[:en:wikt:widow-maker|widowmaker]]" due to the early models' high accident rate during takeoffs and landings. This was because the Marauder had to be flown at precise [[airspeed]]s, particularly on final runway approach or when one engine was out. The unusually high {{convert|150|mph|kph|abbr=on}} speed on short final runway approach was intimidating to many pilots who were used to much slower approach speeds, and when they slowed to speeds below those stipulated in the manual, the aircraft would often stall and crash.<ref name="Ethell 1995, p. 242">Ethell 1995, p. 242.</ref>

The B-26 became a safer aircraft once crews were retrained, and after [[aerodynamics]] modifications (an increase of wingspan and wing [[angle of incidence (aerodynamics)|angle-of-incidence]] to give better takeoff performance, and a larger vertical stabilizer and rudder).<ref name="Ethell 1995, pp. 242-243">Ethell 1995, pp. 242–243.</ref> The Marauder ended World War II with the lowest loss rate of any U.S. Army Air Forces bomber.<ref name="Ethell 1995, p. 243">Ethell 1995, p. 243.</ref>

In total, 5,288 were produced between February 1941 and March 1945; 522 of these were flown by the [[Royal Air Force]] and the [[South African Air Force]]. By the time the [[United States Air Force]] was created as an independent military service separate from the [[United States Army]] in 1947, all Martin B-26s had been retired from U.S. service. After the Marauder was retired, the unrelated ground attack aircraft [[Douglas A-26 Invader]] assumed the "B-26" designation, which led to confusion between the two aircraft.

==Design and development==
In March 1939, the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) issued Circular Proposal 39-640, a specification for a twin-engined medium bomber with a maximum speed of {{convert|350|mph|abbr=on}}, a range of {{convert|3000|mi|abbr=on}}, and a bomb load of {{convert|2000|lb|abbr=on}}. On 5 July 1939, the Glenn L. Martin Company submitted its design, produced by a team led by [[Peyton M. Magruder]], to meet the requirement, the Martin Model 179. Martin's design was evaluated as superior to the other proposals and was awarded a contract for 201 aircraft, to be designated B-26.<ref name="AI Jan 88 p23">''Air International'' January 1988, p. 23.</ref> The B-26 went from paper concept to an operational bomber in roughly two years.<ref name="Trent p. 647">Trent 2008, p. 647.</ref> Additional orders for a further 930 B-26s followed in September 1940, still prior to the first flight of the type.<ref name="AI Jan 88 p25">''Air International'' January 1988, p. 25.</ref>

[[File:Closeup view of Martin B-26C in flight.jpg|thumb|Closeup view of a Martin {{nowrap|B-26B}} Marauder in flight]]
The B-26 was a shoulder-winged [[monoplane]] of all-metal construction, fitted with a [[tricycle landing gear]]. It had a streamlined, circular-section [[fuselage]] housing the crew, consisting of a [[bombardier (air force)|bombardier]] in the nose, armed with a {{convert|.30|in|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} [[machine gun]], a pilot and co-pilot sitting side by side, with positions for the radio operator and navigator behind the pilots. A gunner manned a dorsal turret armed with two {{convert|.50|in|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} machine guns (the first powered dorsal turret to be fitted to a U.S. bomber), and an additional {{convert|.30|in|sigfig=3|abbr=on}} machine gun was fitted in the tail.{{refn|Rare photos on pp. 61–62 show the original tail gun position for the B-26 Marauder 1A with the single .30 caliber replaced with a single .50 caliber, and tail gun position of the B-26B, which was upgraded from one .50 caliber to two .50 caliber machine guns.<ref name="Hot"/> |group=Note}}

Two [[bomb bay]]s were fitted midfuselage, capable of carrying {{convert|5800|lb|sigfig=2|abbr=on}} of bombs, although in practice such a bomb load reduced range too much, and the aft bomb bay was usually fitted with additional fuel tanks instead of bombs. The aircraft was powered by two [[Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp]] [[radial engine]]s in nacelles slung under the wing, driving four-bladed propellers. The engines were manufactured at the Ford Dearborn Engine plant in [[Dearborn, Michigan]]. The wings were of low [[aspect ratio (wing)|aspect ratio]] and relatively small in area for an aircraft of its weight, giving the required high performance, but also resulting in a [[wing loading]] of {{cvt|53|lb/sqft|kg/m2}} for the initial versions, which at the time was the highest of any aircraft accepted for service by the USAAC, until the introduction of the [[Boeing B-29 Superfortress]], with the then-astonishing wing loading of {{cvt|69.12|lb/sqft|kg/m2}} (although both would be considered lightly loaded by the standard of combat aircraft of the next decade).<ref name="AI Jan 88 p23-5">''Air International'' January 1988, pp. 23–25.</ref>

The first B-26, with Martin test pilot William K. "Ken" Ebel at the controls, flew on 25 November 1940 and was effectively the prototype. Deliveries to the USAAC began in February 1941 with the second aircraft, ''40-1362''.<ref name="AI Jan 88 p25"/> In March 1941, the USAAC started accelerated service testing of the B-26 at [[Wright-Patterson AFB|Patterson Field]], near [[Dayton, Ohio]].

===Accidents===
{{more citations needed|section|date=November 2019}}
The B-26's relatively small wing area and resulting high wing loading required a high landing speed of {{convert|120|to|135|mph|abbr=on}} [[indicated airspeed]] depending on load. At least two of the earliest B-26s suffered hard landings and damage to the main landing gear, engine mounts, propellers, and fuselage. The type was grounded briefly in April 1941<ref>Mendenhall; lack of entries on Forms 5A</ref> to investigate the landing difficulties. Two causes were found: insufficient landing speed (producing a [[stall (flight)|stall]]) and improper weight distribution. The latter was due to the lack of a dorsal turret; the Martin power turret was not yet ready.

Some of the very earliest B-26s suffered collapses of the nose landing gear, said to be caused by improper weight distribution, but that is not likely to have been the only reason. The incidents occurred during low-speed taxiing, takeoffs and landings, and occasionally the strut unlocked. Later, the Martin electric dorsal turret was retrofitted to some of the first B-26s. Martin also began testing a taller vertical stabilizer and revised tail gunner's position in 1941.

The Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 engines were reliable, but the Curtiss electric [[Propeller governor|pitch-change mechanism]] in the propellers required impeccable maintenance, not always attainable in the field. [[Human error]] and some failures of the mechanism occasionally placed the propeller blades in flat pitch, resulting in an overspeeding propeller, sometimes known as a "runaway prop". Due to its sound and the possibility that the propeller blades could disintegrate, this situation was particularly frightening for aircrews. More challenging was a loss of power in one engine during takeoff. These and other malfunctions, as well as human error, claimed a number of aircraft and the commanding officer of the [[22nd Bombardment Group]], Colonel Mark Lewis.

The Martin B-26 suffered only two fatal accidents during its first year of flight, from November 1940 to November 1941—a crash shortly after takeoff near Martin's [[Middle River, Maryland|Middle River]] plant in [[Maryland]] (cause unknown, but engine malfunction strongly suggested) and the loss of a [[38th Bombardment Group]] B-26 when its vertical stabilizer and rudder separated from the aircraft at altitude (cause unknown, but the accident report discussed the possibility that a canopy hatch broke off and struck the vertical stabilizer).

As pilots were trained quickly for the war, relatively inexperienced pilots entered the cockpit and the accident rate increased. This occurred at the same time as more experienced B-26 pilots of the 22nd, 38th, and [[42nd Bombardment Group]]s were proving the merits of the bomber.

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 Air Force Base|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.<ref>[https://www.worldwar2database.com/gallery/wwii0015 WASPs Receive Final Instructions Before Flying Martin B-26 Marauder]</ref>

In 1942, aviation pioneer and company founder [[Glenn L. Martin]] was called before the Senate Special Committee to Investigate the National Defense Program, (or also known as the "[[Truman Committee]]"), which was investigating defense contracting abuses. Senator [[Harry S Truman]] of [[Missouri]], the committee chairman (and future [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] and 33rd [[President of the United States]] in 1945–1953), asked Martin why the B-26 had problems. Martin responded that the wings were too short. Senator Truman curtly asked why the wings had not been changed. When Martin replied that the plans were too close to completion, and his company already had the contract, Truman's testy response was quick and to the point: In that case, the contract would be canceled. Martin corrected the wings.<ref>McCullough 2003, p. 319.</ref> (By February 1943, the newest model aircraft, the B-26B-10, had an additional {{convert|6|ft|m}} of wingspan, plus uprated engines, more armor, and larger guns.)<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:uNu9nEjaJVEJ:www.marylandaviationmuseum.org/pdf/B26_spec.pdf+%22B-26+B%22+%226+feet%22+wing&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEEShJ8tOuOvd1pcVqdXRF6iguphAruZ8OJbXvwKxPPUHAt9aKzeJ8uYApDG4ExYpgZRow5RAljNb6YE_3BPPdGIgjP5xJEDOVd8RWREDPqlNIAZanXhNL7QxK6lMJpMR-kiV-M-tO&sig=AHIEtbS9G--srwDYxQY0W20gly_Xe-kOyw&pli=1 "Martin Aircraft Specifications: B-26 Marauder Types".] The Glenn L. Martin Aviation Museum. Retrieved: 2 April 2011</ref>

Indeed, the regularity of crashes by pilots training at MacDill Field—up to 15 in one 30-day period—led to the exaggerated catchphrase, "One a day in Tampa Bay".<ref name=Scutts>Scutts 1997, p. 9.</ref> Apart from accidents occurring over land, 13 Marauders [[water landing|ditched]] in Tampa Bay in the 14 months between 5 August 1942 and 8 October 1943.<ref name=Scutts/>

B-26 crews gave the aircraft the nickname "Widowmaker".<ref name="Trent p. 647"/> Other colorful nicknames included "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).<ref>Higham, Roy and Carol Williams, eds. ''Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF–USAF (Vol. 1)''. Andrews AFB, MD: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1975. {{ISBN|0-8138-0325-X}}.</ref>

According to an article in the April 2009 edition of ''AOPA Pilot'' on Kermit Weeks' "Fantasy of Flight", the Marauder had a tendency to "hunt" in yaw. This instability is similar to "[[Dutch roll]]". This would make for a very uncomfortable ride, especially for the tail gunner.

The B-26 is stated by the [[9th Air Force]] to have had the lowest combat loss rate of any US aircraft used during the war. Nevertheless, it remained a challenging aircraft to fly and continued to be disliked by some of its pilots throughout its military career. In 1944, in answer to many pilots complaining to the press and their relatives back home, the USAAF and Martin took the unusual step during war of commissioning large articles to be placed in various popular publications to educate the public and defend the flying/accident record of the B-26 against "slanders". One of the longest of these articles was in the May 1944 issue of ''[[Popular Mechanics]]''.<ref name="Hot">[https://books.google.com/books?id=hd8DAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+Mechanics+1944+Marader&pg=PA61 "They Said It Was Too 'Hot' To Fly."] ''Popular Mechanics'', May 1944.</ref>

==Operational history==
[[File:Martin Marauder ExCC.jpg|thumb|Royal Air Force B-26 flying over [[Banja Luka]] during World War II]]

The B-26 Marauder was used mostly in Europe, but also saw action in the Mediterranean and the Pacific. In early combat, the aircraft took heavy losses, but was still one of the most successful medium-range bombers used by the USAAF.<ref>[http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/AAFaircraft.htm "Army Air Forces Aircraft: A Definitive Moment."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630172954/http://www.airforcehistory.hq.af.mil/PopTopics/AAFaircraft.htm |date=2008-06-30 }} ''Air Force Historical Studies Office''. Retrieved: 5 October 2009.</ref> The B-26 was initially deployed on combat missions in the [[South West Pacific Area (command)|South West Pacific]] in early 1942, but most of the B-26s subsequently assigned to operational theaters were sent to England and the Mediterranean area.

By the end of World War II, it had flown more than 110,000 sorties, dropped 150,000&nbsp;tons (136,078&nbsp;tonnes) of bombs, and had been used in combat by British, Free French, and South African forces in addition to US units. In 1945, when B-26 production was halted, 5,266 had been built.<ref>[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196275/martin-b-26g-marauder/ "Martin B-26G Marauder."] ''National Museum of the US Air Force''. Retrieved: 29 November 2015.</ref>

===Pacific Theater===
The B-26 began to equip the [[22nd Operations Group|22nd Bombardment Group]] at [[Langley Field]], [[Virginia]], in February 1941, replacing the [[Douglas B-18 Bolo]], with a further two groups, the 38th and 28th, beginning to equip with the B-26 by December 1941.<ref name="AI Jan 88 p25"/><ref name="AI Feb 88 p75">''Air International'' February 1988, p. 75.</ref> Immediately following the Japanese [[Attack on Pearl Harbor]], the 22nd BG was deployed to the [[South West Pacific Theater of World War II|South West Pacific]],<ref name="Donald p176">Donald 1995, p. 76.</ref><ref name="Swan army p335">Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 335.</ref> first by ship to [[Hawaii]], then its air echelon flew the planes to Australia. The 22nd BG flew its first combat mission, an attack on [[Rabaul]], which required an intermediate stop at [[Port Moresby]], [[New Guinea]], on 5 April 1942.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p75"/>

[[File:B-26 Susie-Q.jpg|thumb|''Susie Q'', a B-26 torpedo bomber of the 18th Reconnaissance Squadron, was flown during the Battle of Midway on 4 June 1942.]]

A second group, the [[38th Bombardment Group|38th]], began receiving B-26s in November 1941 and began transitioning into them at Patterson Field, Ohio. There, the 38th continued the testing of the B-26, including its range and fuel efficiency. Immediately after the entry of the United States into World War II, plans were tentatively developed to send the 38th BG to the South West Pacific and to equip it with B-26Bs fitted with more auxiliary fuel tanks and provisions for carrying [[aerial torpedo]]es.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p75"/> Three 38th BG B-26Bs<ref>Letters from Maj. James F. Collins 1984–86.</ref> were detached to [[Midway Island]] in the buildup to the [[Battle of Midway]], and two of them, along with two B-26s detached from the 22nd BG, carried out torpedo attacks against the Japanese Fleet on 4 June 1942. Two were shot down and the other two were so badly damaged that they were written off after the mission. Their torpedoes failed to hit any Japanese ships, although they did shoot down one [[Mitsubishi A6M Zero]] fighter and killed two seamen aboard the aircraft carrier [[Japanese aircraft carrier Akagi|''Akagi'']] with machine-gun fire.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p75"/><ref name="Shattered p151-3">Parshall and Tulley 2005, pp. 151–153.</ref> The crew of one B-26, ''Susie Q'', after dropping their torpedo, were pursued by fighters; seeking an escape route, they flew directly along the length of the ''Akagi'', braving [[Anti-aircraft warfare|antiaircraft]] fire – to the point the pursuing Japanese fighters had to hold fire temporarily, to avoid hitting the flagship. Another B-26, seriously damaged by antiaircraft fire, did not pull out of its run, and instead flew directly at ''Akagi''{{'}}s [[Bridge (nautical)|bridge]]. Either attempting a [[Suicide attack|suicide ramming]], or out of control, the plane narrowly missed striking the carrier's bridge, and crashed into the ocean.<ref>Parshall and Tully, pp. 151–152; Lundstrom, p. 337</ref>

From around June 1942, B-26 squadrons of the 38th BG were based in New Caledonia and Fiji. From New Caledonia, missions were flown against Japanese bases in the Solomon Islands. On one occasion, a B-26 was credited with shooting down a [[Kawanishi H6K]] [[flying boat]]. In 1943, the B-26 was decided to be phased out of operations in the South West Pacific Theater in favor of the [[North American B-25 Mitchell]]. Nevertheless, the 19th Bombardment Squadron of the 22nd BG continued to fly missions in the B-26. The B-26 flew its last combat mission in the theater on 9 January 1944.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p75"/>

Two more squadrons of torpedo-armed B-26s equipped the 28th Composite Group and were used for antishipping operations in the [[Aleutian Islands Campaign]], but no records of any successful torpedo attack by a USAAF B-26 have been found.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p75"/>

Comedian [[George Gobel]] famously joked about being an instructor for this aircraft at Frederick Army Airfield (now [[Frederick Regional Airport]]) during the Pacific battles, boasting, "not one Japanese aircraft got past Tulsa".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-02-25-mn-1417-story.html|title=George Gobel obituary|author=Burt Folkart|date=1991-02-25|website=www.latimes.com|access-date=12 January 2018}}</ref>

===Mediterranean Theater===
Three bombardment groups were allocated to support the [[Operation Torch|Allied invasion of French North Africa]] in November 1942. They were initially used to carry out low-level attacks against heavily defended targets, incurring heavy losses with poor results, before switching to medium-level attacks. By the end of the [[North African Campaign]], the three B-26 groups had flown 1,587 sorties, losing 80 aircraft. This was double the loss rate of the B-25, which also flew 70% more sorties with fewer aircraft.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p76-7">''Air International'' February 1988, pp. 76–77.</ref> Despite this, the B-26 continued in service with the [[Twelfth Air Force]], supporting the Allied advance through [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]], [[Italian Campaign (World War II)|Italy]], and [[Operation Dragoon|southern France]].<ref name="Donald p177">Donald 1995, p. 177.</ref><ref name="Swan army p338">Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 338.</ref> [[John Slessor|Air Marshal Sir John Slessor]], Deputy Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean Allied Air Forces, wrote of "the astonishing accuracy of the experienced medium bomber groups—particularly the Marauders; I think that the 42nd Bombardment Group in Sardinia is probably the best [[day-bomber]] unit in the world."<ref name="Slessor p572">Slessor 1957, p. 572.</ref> Slessor in fact meant the 42nd Bomb Wing—17th, 319th, and 320th Bomb Groups—but a US 'wing' equated roughly to a British 'group', and vice versa.

===Northwest Europe===
[[File:B-26B Flak Damage.jpg|thumb|Martin B-26B-1-MA Marauder, AAF Ser. No. 41-17747, "Earthquake McGoon" of the 37th BS, 17th BG, shows extensive flak damage over Europe, September 1943.]]

The B-26 entered service with the [[Eighth Air Force]] in England in early 1943, with the [[322nd Air Expeditionary Group|322nd Bombardment Group]] flying its first missions in May 1943. Operations were similar to those flown in North Africa with B-26s flying at low level and were unsuccessful. The second mission, an unescorted attack on a power station at [[IJmuiden]], the [[Netherlands]], resulted in the loss of the entire attacking force of 10 B-26s to antiaircraft fire and [[Luftwaffe]] [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190]] fighters.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p77">''Air International'' February 1988, p. 77.</ref> Following this disaster, the UK-based B-26 force was switched to medium-altitude operations, and transferred to the [[Ninth Air Force]], set up to support the planned invasion of France.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p77"/>

Bombing from medium altitudes of {{convert|10000|to|15000|ft}} and with appropriate fighter escort, the Marauder proved far more successful, striking against a variety of targets, including bridges and [[Operation Crossbow|V-1 launching sites]] in the buildup to D-Day, and moving to bases in France as they became available. The Marauder, operating from medium altitude, proved to be a highly accurate aircraft, with the 9th Air Force rating it the most accurate bomber available in the final month of the war in Europe.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p78-9">''Air International'' February 1988, pp. 78–79.</ref> Loss rates were far lower than in the early, low-level days, with the B-26 stated by the 9th Air Force as having the lowest loss rate in the European Theater of Operations at less than 0.5%.<ref name="AI Jan 88 p25"/> On 9 August 1944, Captain [[Darrell R. Lindsey]] of the [[394th Bombardment Group]] led a formation of B-26 bombers to destroy the L'Isle Adam bridge in [[German military administration in occupied France during World War II|German-occupied France]]. Despite his B-26 being heavily damaged by ground fire and engulfed in flames, he completed the bombing run. Lindsey ordered his crew to parachute to safety, but refused to escape himself, ensuring their survival. Moments after the last crew member jumped, the plane exploded, killing Lindsey. He was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]] for his heroism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afhistory.af.mil/FAQs/Fact-Sheets/Article/639612/lindsey-capt-darrell-r-lindsey/|title=Capt. Darrell R Lindsey|newspaper=Air Forcer Historical Support Division|access-date=2024-09-29}}</ref>

The B-26 flew its last combat missions against the German garrison at the [[Île d'Oléron]] on 1 May 1945, with the last units disbanding in early 1946.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p79">''Air International'' February 1988, p. 79.</ref>

===British Commonwealth===
In 1942, a batch of 52 B-26A Marauders (designated Marauder I by the RAF) were offered to the United Kingdom under [[Lend-Lease]]. Like the earlier [[Martin Maryland]] and [[Martin Baltimore|Baltimore]], these aircraft were sent to the Mediterranean, replacing the [[Bristol Blenheim]]s of [[No. 14 Squadron RAF|14 Squadron]] in Egypt. The squadron flew its first operational mission on 6 November 1942, being used for long-range reconnaissance, [[Naval mine|mine]]-laying and anti-shipping strikes.<ref name="March p174">March 1998, p. 174.</ref> Unlike the USAAF, 14 Squadron used the equipment for carrying torpedoes, sinking several merchant ships with this weapon. The Marauder also proved useful in disrupting enemy air transport, shooting down considerable numbers of German and Italian transport aircraft flying between Italy and North Africa.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p81">''Air International'' February 1988, p. 81.</ref>

In 1943, deliveries of 100 long-wingspan B-26C-30s (Marauder II) allowed two squadrons of the [[South African Air Force]], [[12 Squadron SAAF|12 Squadron]] and [[24 Squadron SAAF|24 Squadron]] to be equipped, these being used for bombing missions over the [[Aegean Sea]], [[Crete]], and Italy. A further 350 B-26Fs and Gs were supplied in 1944, with two more South African squadrons ([[21 Squadron SAAF|21]] and [[30 Squadron SAAF|30]]) joining No 12 and 24 in Italy to form an all-Marauder equipped wing, while one further SAAF squadron ([[25 Squadron SAAF|25 Squadron]]) and the new RAF [[No. 39 Squadron RAF|39 Squadron]], re-equipped with Marauders as part of the [[Balkan Air Force]] supporting [[Josip Broz Tito|Tito]]'s [[Yugoslav Partisans|Partisans]] in [[Yugoslavia]]. A Marauder of 25 Squadron SAAF, shot down on the unit's last mission of World War II on 4 May 1945, was the last Marauder lost in action.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p82">''Air International'' February 1988, p. 82.</ref> The British and South African aircraft were quickly scrapped following the end of the war, the United States not wanting the return of the Lend-Lease aircraft.<ref name="March p174"/>

===France===
Following [[Operation Torch]], (the Allied invasion of North Africa), the [[Free French Air Force]] re-equipped three squadrons with Marauders for medium-bombing operations in Italy and the [[Operation Dragoon|Allied invasion of southern France]].<ref name="AI Feb 88 p94">''Air International'' February 1988, pp. 82, 94.</ref> These B-26s replaced [[Lioré et Olivier LeO 451]]s and [[Douglas DB-7]]s.<ref name=Rickard>Rickard, J. [http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/weapons_B-26_Free_French.html "Martin B-26 Marauder with Free French Air Force".] ''historyofwar.org'', 4 May 2009. Retrieved: 9 October 2009.</ref> Toward the end of the war, seven of the nine French ''Groupes de Bombardement'' used the Marauder, taking part in 270 missions with 4,884 aircraft sorties in combat.<ref name=Rickard/> Free French B-26 groups were disbanded in June 1945.<ref>Johnson 2008, p. 84.</ref> Replaced in squadron service by 1947, two lingered on as [[testbed]]s for the [[Snecma Atar]] [[jet engine]], one of these remaining in use until 1958.<ref name="AI Feb 88 p94"/>

===Corporate operations===
[[File:Martin B-26C Marauder N5546N CAF HRL 18.10.75 edited-2.jpg|thumb|B-26C modified for corporate use in 1948 with faired nose and rear fuselage and added passenger windows]]
In the immediate postwar years, a few Marauders were converted as high-speed executive transports, accommodating up to 15 passengers. The specifications of the individual conversions differed considerably.<ref>Green. 1965, p. 264</ref> The example shown in the image was completed in 1948 and had streamlined nose and tail fairings and windows inserted in the rear fuselage. It served [[United Airlines]] before being sold to Mexico. It was purchased by the [[Confederate Air Force]] and restored to wartime markings for air-display purposes before being lost in a fatal crash in 1995.

==Variants==
[[File:B-26B bomber in flight.jpg|thumb|US Army Air Forces B-26B bomber in flight]]
[[File:XB26H low angle.jpg|thumb|The lone XB-26H "Middle River Stump Jumper", used for testing "bicycle" landing gear]]
[[File:B-26G.jpg|thumb|B-26G "Shootin' In" at Wright-Patterson National Air Force Museum]]
* '''B-26''' — The first 201 planes were ordered based upon design alone. Prototypes were not characterized with the usual "X" or "Y" designations. They had Pratt & Whitney R-2800-5 engines. Armament consisted of two .30 caliber and two .50 caliber machine guns.<ref name="B26 fact">[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2517 "Fact sheet: Martin B-26."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070812203035/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2517 |date=2007-08-12 }} ''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 7 January 2009.</ref> (The last model was armed with nearly three times that number.) The approximate cost then was $80,226.80 per aircraft (201 built).
* '''B-26A''' — This incorporated changes made on the production line to the B-26, including upgrading the two .30 caliber machine guns in the nose and tail to .50 caliber. In total, 52 B-26As were delivered to the Royal Air Force, which were used as the Marauder Mk I.<ref name="B-26A">[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2518 "Fact sheet: Martin B-26A"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806062101/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2518 |date=2009-08-06 }} ''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 5 August 2010.</ref> The approximate cost then was $102,659.33 per aircraft (139 built).
* '''B-26B''' — This model had further improvements on the B-26A, including revised tail gunner's glazing. Nineteen were delivered to the Royal Air Force as the Marauder Mk.IA. Production blocks of the 1,883 aircraft built:<ref name="B26B">[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2520 "Fact sheet: Martin B-26B to B-26-B4"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616100627/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2520 |date=2012-06-16 }}. ''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 5 August 2010.</ref>
** '''AT-23A''' or '''TB-26B'''—208 B-26Bs converted into target tugs and gunnery trainers designated '''JM-1''' by the [[US Navy]]
** '''B-26B'''—Single tail gun replaced with twin guns; belly-mounted "tunnel gun" added (81 built)<ref name="B26B"/>
** '''B-26B-1'''—Improved B-26B. (225 built)<ref name="B26B"/>
** '''B-26B-2'''—Pratt & Whitney R-2800-41 radials (96 built)<ref name="B26B"/>
** '''B-26B-3'''—Larger [[carburetor]] intakes; upgrade to R-2800-43 radials (28 built)<ref name="B26B"/>
** '''B-26B-4'''—Improved B-26B-3 (211 built)<ref name="B26B"/>
** '''B-26B-10''' through '''B-26B-55''' — Beginning with block 10, the wingspan was increased from {{convert|65|to|71|ft|m}} and flaps were added outboard of the engine nacelle to improve handling problems during landing caused by high wing loads. The vertical stabilizer height was increased from {{convert|19|ft|10|in|m}} to {{convert|21|ft|6|in|m}}. Armament was increased from six to twelve .50 caliber machine guns; this was done in the forward section so that the B-26 could perform [[strafing]] missions. The tail gun was upgraded from manual to power operated. Armor was added to protect the [[Aviator|pilot]] and copilot; 1,242 were built.<ref name="B26B10 fact">[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2519 "Fact sheet: Martin B-26B-10 to B-26B-55."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929065550/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2519 |date=2011-09-29 }} ''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 5 August 2010.</ref>
** '''CB-26B'''—12 B-26Bs were converted into transport aircraft (all were delivered to the US Marine Corps for use in the [[Philippines]]).<ref name="Trent p. 648">Trent 2008, p. 648.</ref>
* '''B-26C'''—This designation was assigned to those B-26Bs built in [[Omaha, Nebraska]], instead of [[Baltimore, Maryland]]. Although nominally the B-26B-10 was the first variant to receive the longer wing, it was actually installed on B-26Cs before the B-26B-10, both being in production simultaneously. A total of 123 B-26Cs was used by the RAF and SAAF as the '''Marauder Mk II'''. The approximate cost then was $138,551.27 per aircraft (1,210 built).
** '''TB-26C'''—Originally designated as AT-23B; this was a trainer modification of the B-26C (about 300 modified).
* '''XB-26D'''—This modified B-26 was used to test hot-air deicing equipment, in which heat exchangers transferred heat from engine exhaust to air circulated to the leading and trailing edges of the wing and empennage surfaces.<ref>[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2571 "Factsheets: Martin XB-26D."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616100148/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2571 |date=2012-06-16 }} ''National Museum of the United States Air Force''. Retrieved: 2 August 2011.</ref> This system, while promising, was not incorporated into any production aircraft made during World War II. (One converted)
* '''B-26E'''—This modified B-26B was constructed to test the effectiveness of moving the dorsal gun turret from the aft fuselage to just behind the [[cockpit (aviation)|cockpit]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060728072553/http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b3-21.htm "B-26 cockpit."] ''wpafb.af.mil''. Retrieved: 5 October 2009.</ref> The offensive and defensive abilities of the B-26E were tested in combat simulations against normal aircraft. Although the tests showed that gains were made with the new arrangement, they were insignificant. A cost analysis concluded that the benefit did not justify the effort needed to convert production lines for the new turret position (one converted).
* '''B-26F'''—Angle-of-incidence of wings was increased by 3.5º; the fixed .50 caliber machine gun in the nose was removed; the tail turret and associated armor were improved.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060728172418/http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b3-22.htm "B-26F."] ''wpafb.af.mil''. Retrieved: 5 October 2009.</ref> The first B-26F was produced in February 1944. One hundred of these were B-26F-1-MAs. Starting with 42-96231, a revised oil cooler was added, along with wing bottom panels redesigned for easier removal. In total, 200 of the 300 aircraft were B-26F-2s and F-6s, all of which were used by the RAF and SAAF as the Marauder Mk III. The F-2 had the Bell M-6 power turret replaced by an M-6A with a flexible canvas cover over the guns. The T-1 bombsight was installed instead of the M-series sight. British bomb fusing and radio equipment were provided (300 built).
* '''B-26G'''—This was a B-26F with standardized interior equipment.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050728081525/http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b3-23.htm "B-26G."] ''wpafb.af.mil''. Retrieved: 5 October 2009.</ref> In total, 150 bombers were used by the RAF as the Marauder Mk III (893 built).
** '''TB-26G'''—B-26G converted for crew training. Most, possibly all, were delivered to the US Navy as the JM-2 (57 converted).
* '''XB-26H'''—This test aircraft for [[tandem landing gear]] was nicknamed the "Middle River Stump Jumper" from its "bicycle" gear configuration, to see if it could be used on the [[Martin XB-48]].<ref>[http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2572 "XB-26H."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616101511/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2572 |date=2012-06-16 }} ''wpafb.af.mil''. Retrieved: 5 October 2009.</ref> (One converted)
* '''JM-1P'''—A small number of JM-1s were converted into photo-reconnaissance aircraft for the US Navy.<ref name="Trent p. 648"/>
;Marauder I
:British designation for 52 B-26As for the Royal Air Force
;Marauder IA
:British designation for 19 B-26Bs for the Royal Air Force
;Marauder II
:British designation for 123 B-26Cs for the Royal Air Force; 100 passed on to South African Air Force and supported invasion of Italy
;Marauder III
:British designation for 200 B-26F and 150 B-26G for the Royal Air Force and South African Air Force.

With the exception of the B-26C, all models and variants of the B-26 were produced at Martin's Middle River manufacturing plant. The B-26C was built at the Martin plant in Omaha.<ref>Dean, Francis H. ''America's Hundred Thousand: U.S. Production Fighters of World War II''. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer, 2000. {{ISBN|0-7643-0072-5}}.</ref>

==Operators==
{{Main|List of Martin B-26 Marauder operators}}
[[File:WASPs on flight line at Laredo AAF.jpg|thumb|[[Women Airforce Service Pilots|WASPs]] on flightline at [[Laredo Army Air Field]], [[Texas]], 22 January 1944]]

;{{FRA}}
* [[Free France]]
;{{Flag|South Africa|1928}}
* [[South African Air Force]]
;{{TUR}}<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2023/03/wwiis-absentee-german-and-allied.html | title=WWII's Absentee: German and Allied Equipment Used by the Turkish Republic }}</ref>
* [[Turkish Air Force]]
;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Air Force]]
;{{Flag|USA|1912}}
* [[United States Army Air Corps]]
* [[United States Army Air Forces]]
* [[United States Marine Corps]]
* [[United States Navy]]

==Surviving aircraft==
[[File:B-26 Le Bourget 01.jpg|thumb|Martin B-26 Marauder in [[Free French Air Forces]] livery on display at Le Bourget]]
[[File:Martin B-26G in Dayton.jpg|thumb|Martin B-26G-11-MA Marauder, ''43-34581'', at the [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]], marked as B-26B-50-MA, ''42-95857'', written off in an accident on 19 April 1945.]]

===France===
;B-26G
* 44-68219 ''Dinah Might''<ref>[http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b26registry/b26-4468219.html "B-26 Marauder/44-68219."] ''Warbirds Resource Group.'' Retrieved: 23 August 2010.</ref> - Utah Beach Museum (Musée du Débarquement Utah Beach) on loan from the [[Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace]] in [[Le Bourget]].<ref>Baughin, V. [http://www.utah-beach.com/uk/landing-museum/gallery/2011/default.asp "B-26 Slide show."]{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} ''Utah Beach Museum,'' 2011. Retrieved: 7 October 2011.</ref> It was previously recovered from the Air France training school.<ref>[http://pyperpote.tonsite.biz/pages/marauderpag.html "Glenn Martin B-26G-25-MA n°44-68219."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908074921/http://pyperpote.tonsite.biz/pages/marauderpag.html |date=2008-09-08 }} ''pyperpote.tonsite.biz''. Retrieved: 5 October 2009.</ref>

===United States===
;Airworthy
;;B-26
* 40-1464 – part of the [[Fantasy of Flight]] collection in [[Polk City, Florida]].<ref>[https://www.fantasyofflight.com/collection/aircraft/currently-not-showing-in-museum/wwii/1940-martin-b-26-marauder/ "B-26 Marauder/40-1464."] ''Fantasy of Flight.'' Retrieved: 11 May 2017.</ref><ref>[https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=4297J "FAA Registry: N4297J."] ''FAA.gov'' Retrieved: 15 July 2021.</ref>

;On display
;;B-26
* 40-1459 ''Charley's Jewel'' – [[MAPS Air Museum]] in [[Akron, Ohio]].<ref>[https://mapsairmuseum.org/gallery-item/martin-b-26-marauder/ "B-26 Marauder/40-1459."] ''MAPS Air Museum.'' Retrieved: 12 November 2019.</ref>
;;B-26G
* 43-34581 ''Shootin In'' – [[National Museum of the United States Air Force]] at [[Wright-Patterson AFB]] in [[Dayton, Ohio]]. This aircraft was flown in combat by the [[Free French Air Force]] during the final months of World War II. It was obtained from the mechanics' training school of French airline [[Air France]] near [[Paris]] in June 1965. It is painted as a [[9th Air Force]] B-26B assigned to the [[387th Bombardment Group]] in 1945.<ref>''United States Air Force Museum Guidebook'' 1975, p. 37.</ref><ref>[https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/196275/martin-b-26g-marauder/ "B-26 Marauder/43-34581."] ''National Museum of the USAF.'' Retrieved: 15 December 2017.</ref>

;Under restoration
;;B-26
* 40-1370 – for display by Aircraft Restoration Services LLC, [[Murrieta, California]].<ref>[https://warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-news/martin-b-26b-marauder-project-for-sale.html "B-26 Marauder/40-1370."] ''Warbirds News.'' Retrieved: 18 December 2021.</ref>
;;B-26B
* 41-31856 – for display at Aircraft Restoration Services LLC, [[French Valley Airport]], [[Murrieta, California]] for the [[Pima Air & Space Museum]], in [[Tucson, Arizona]].<ref>[https://pimaair.org/museum-aircraft/martin-b-26b/ "B-26 Marauder/40-1501."] ''Pima Air & Space Museum''. Retrieved: 22 December 2021.</ref>
* 41-31773 ''[[Flak-Bait]]'' – for display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] of the [[National Air and Space Museum]] in [[Chantilly, Virginia]]. This aircraft survived 207 operational missions over Europe, more than any other American aircraft during World War II.<ref>[https://airandspace.si.edu/research/projects/flak-bait "B-26 Marauder/41-31773."] ''National Air and Space Museum'' Retrieved: 22 December 2021.</ref>

==Specifications (B-26G)==
{{multiple image
 |total_width = 500
 | image1 = Martin B-26 Marauder.svg
 | alt1 = 3-view line drawing of the Martin B-26B/C Marauder
 | caption1 = 3-view line drawing of the Martin B-26B/C Marauder
 | image2 = Martin B-26F Marauder 3-view line drawing.png
 | alt2 = 3-view line drawing of the Martin B-26F/G Marauder
 | caption2 = 3-view line drawing of the Martin B-26F/G Marauder
}}
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Quest for Performance<ref>Loftin, L.K. Jr. [http://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/cover.htm "Quest for performance: The Evolution of Modern Aircraft."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529231420/https://www.hq.nasa.gov/pao/History/SP-468/cover.htm |date=2018-05-29 }} ''NASA SP-468''. Retrieved: 22 April 2006.</ref> ''and'' Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II<ref name="jane">Bridgman 1946, pp. 245–246.</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|crew=7: (2 pilots, bombardier/radio operator, navigator/radio operator, 3 gunners)
|length ft=58
|length in=3
|length note=
|span ft=71
|span in=0
|span note=
|height ft=21
|height in=6
|height note=
|wing area sqft=658
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 0017-64]]; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA 0010-64]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight lb=24000
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=37000
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp|Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 Double Wasp]]
|eng1 type=18-cylinder radial piston engines
|eng1 hp=2000-2200
|eng1 note=

|prop blade number=4
|prop name=constant-speed feathering propellers
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|max speed mph=287
|max speed note=at {{convert|5000|ft|m}}
|cruise speed mph=216
|cruise speed note=<br>
* '''Landing speed:''' {{cvt|114|mph|kn km/h|0}}
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|combat range miles=1150
|combat range note=with {{convert|3000|lb|kg}} bomb load and {{cvt|1153|USgal|L|0}} of fuel
|ferry range miles=2850
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling ft=21000
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=1200
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.10|hp/lb}}

|more performance=<!--<br />
*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}
*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}-->
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns=11 × [[.50 BMG|.50 in (12.7 mm)]] [[M2 Browning]] machine guns. One flexible in nose position, four fixed in blisters on fuselage (fired by the pilot), two in dorsal turret, two in tail turret, one each in port and starboard lower waist positions
|bombs= Up to {{cvt|4000|lb}}
|avionics=
}}

==Media appearances==
<!-- All content about the aircraft in fictional and gaming use has been moved to [[Aircraft in fiction, please see [[WP:AIRPOP]] -->
{{Main|Aircraft in fiction#B-26 Marauder}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Aviation}}
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Martin XB-27]]
* [[Martin XB-33 Super Marauder]]
|similar aircraft=
* [[de Havilland Mosquito]]
* [[Dornier Do 217]]
* [[Douglas A-26 Invader]]
* [[Mitsubishi G4M]]
* [[North American B-25 Mitchell]]
* [[Vickers Wellington]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of bomber aircraft]]
* [[List of military aircraft of the United States]]
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist|group=Note}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{Refbegin}}
* Birdsall, Steve. (1981) ''B-26 Marauder in Action (Aircraft number 50)''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications, Inc. {{ISBN|0-89747-119-9}}.
* Bridgman, Leonard.  "The Martin Model 179 Marauder". ''Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II''. London: [[Studio]], 1946. {{ISBN|1-85170-493-0}}.
* Brown, Kenneth. ''Marauder Man: World War II in the Crucial but Little Known B-26 Marauder Medium Bomber''. Pacifica, California: Pacifica Press, 2001. {{ISBN|0-935553-53-3}}.
* Donald, David, ed. ''American Warplanes of World War II''. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1995. {{ISBN|1-874023-72-7}}.
* Ehrhardt, Patrick. ''Les Marauders Français'' (in French). Ostwald, France: Editions du Polygone, 2006. {{ISBN|2-913832-05-9}}.
* Ethell, L. Jeffrey. (1995) ''Aircraft of World War II.''  Glasgow: [[HarperCollins Publishers]]. {{ISBN|0-00-470849-0}}.
* Forsyth, Robert and Jerry Scutts. (2000) ''Battle over Bavaria: The B-26 Marauder versus the German Jets, April 1945''. Crowborough, UK: Classic Publications. {{ISBN|978-0-9526867-4-3}}.
* Freeman, Roger A. ''B-26 Marauder at War''. London: Ian Allan Ltd., 1977. {{ISBN|0-7110-0823-X}}.
* Green, William. ''The Aircraft of the World''. London: [[Macdonald & Co.]] (Publishers) Ltd Third edition 1965.
* Green, William. ''Famous Bombers of the Second World War (2nd ed.)''. New York: [[Doubleday (publisher)|Doubleday]], 1975. {{ISBN|0-356-08333-0}}.
* Hall, Tom. "Breaking in the B-26." ''American Aviation Historical Society Journal'', Spring 1992.
* Havener, Jack K. ''The Martin B-26 Marauder''. Murfreesboro, Tennessee: Southern Heritage Press, 1997. {{ISBN|0-941072-27-4}}.
* Hunter, Lawrence Jack. ''The Flying Prostitute''. Lincoln, Nebraska: [[iUniverse.com]], 2000. {{ISBN|0-595-00048-7}}.
* Johnsen, Frederick A. ''Martin B-26 Marauder''. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2000. {{ISBN|1-58007-029-9}}.
* Johnson, E.R. [https://books.google.com/books?id=GmFhOCYckfQC&pg=PA84 ''American Attack Aircraft Since 1926.''] Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland, 2008. {{ISBN|0-7864-3464-3}}.
* {{cite book |last = Lawrence |first = Joseph |title = The Observer's Book Of Airplanes |location = London and New York |publisher = Frederick Warne & Co |year = 1945}}
* Listemann, Phil H. ''Allied Wings No. 2: Martin Marauder Mk.I''. France: www.raf-in-combat.com, 2008. {{ISBN|2-9526381-6-0}}.
* "Marauder: Mr Martin's Mean Machine" Part 1. ''[[Air International]]'', January 1988, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp.&nbsp;22–29, 49. Bromley, UK: Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634.
* "Marauder: Mr Martin's Mean Machine: Part Two". ''Air International'', February 1988, Vol. 34, No. 2, pp.&nbsp;75–82, 94. Bromley, UK: Fine Scroll. ISSN 0306-5634.
* March, Daniel J. ''British Warplanes of World War II''. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1998. {{ISBN|1-874023-92-1}}.
* [[McCullough, David]]. ''[[Truman (book)|Truman]]''. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7432-6029-5}}.
* Mendenhall, Charles. ''Deadly Duo: The B-25 and B-26 in WWII''. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 1981. {{ISBN|0-933424-22-1}}.
* Moench, John O. ''Marauder Men: An Account of the B-26 Marauder''. Longwood, Florida: Malia Enterprises, 1989. {{ISBN|1-877597-00-7}}.
* Moore, Carl H. ''WWII: Flying the B-26 Marauder over Europe''. Blue Ridge Summit, Pennsylvania: [[McGraw-Hill]]/[[TAB Books]], 1980. {{ISBN|0-8306-2311-6}}.
* Nowicki, Jacek and Andre R. Zbiegniewski. ''Martin B-26, Vol. 1 (Militaria 137)'' (in Polish). Warsaw, Poland: Wydawnictwo Militaria, 2001. {{ISBN|83-7219-112-3}}.
* O'Mahony, Charles. "Me & My Gal: The Stormy Combat Romance Between a WWII Bomber Pilot and his Martin B-26." ''Wings'', December 1994.
* Parshall, Jonathon and Anthony Tulley. ''Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway''. Washington D.C.: [[Potomac Books]], 2005. {{ISBN|1-57488-923-0}}.
* Rehr, Louis S. and Carleton R. Rehr. ''Marauder: Memoir of a B-26 Pilot in Europe in World War II''. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc, 2003. {{ISBN|0-7864-1664-5}}.
* Scutts, Jerry. ''B-26 Marauder Units of the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces''. Botley, UK: Osprey Publishing Ltd., 1997. {{ISBN|1-85532-637-X}}.
* Slessor, Sir John. ''The Central Blue''. New York: Fredrick A. Praeger, Inc., 1957.
* Swanborough, F.G. and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military Aircraft since 1909''. London: [[G. P. Putnam's Sons|Putnam]], First edition, 1963.
* Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911''. Annapolis, Maryland: [[Naval Institute Press]], 1990. {{ISBN|0-87021-792-5}}.
* Tannehill, Victor C. ''Boomerang, Story of the 320th Bombardment Group in World War II''. Self-published.
* Tannehill, Victor C. ''The Martin Marauder B-26''. Arvada, Colorado: Boomerang Publishers, 1997. {{ISBN|0-9605900-6-4}}.
* Trent, Jack. " 'Fat-Bottomed Girls': The Martin B-26 Marauder." ''Scale Aircraft Modeller'', Volume 14, No. 7, July 2008.
* ''United States Air Force Museum Guidebook''. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: [[Air Force Museum Foundation]], 1975.
* Wagner, Ray. ''The Martin B-26B & C Marauder (Aircraft in Profile No. 112)''. Windsor, Berkshire, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965. Reprinted 1971.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* Baugher, Joe. [http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b26.html "Martin B-26 Marauder."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107014226/http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b26.html |date=7 November 2017 }} ''Encyclopedia of American Aircraft''.
* {{YouTube|id=tuTOFcqGPys|title="How To Fly The B-26 Airplane (1944)"}}
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=KCcDAAAAMBAJ&dq=popular+science+antitank+1941&pg=PA70 The Army Asked For A Miracle – The Answer Was The B-26] early 1943 article, photos of early B-26s
* [http://cdm15960.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p15960coll3/searchterm/B-26%20Marauder%20Archives/field/all/mode/exact/conn/and/order/date B-26 Marauder Digital Collection] at The [[University of Akron]] Archival Services
* [http://www.b26.com/ b26.com Site dedicated to the crews that flew the Marauder]
* [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/nodes/view/2830 Pilot training manual for the B-26] – [https://digitalcollections.museumofflight.org/ The Museum of Flight Digital Collections]

{{Martin aircraft}}
{{USAF bomber aircraft}}
{{USAF trainer aircraft}}
{{USN utility aircraft}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1940s United States bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Martin aircraft|B-26]]
[[Category:Shoulder-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1940]]
[[Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]