A view of the controversial Martin Marauder Mk III as used by the RAF. (Martin Aircraft Photo)
The Martin B-26 Marauder was one of the most controversial American combat aircraft of the Second World War. Used primarily in Europe, it was in fact numerically the most important US medium bomber used in that theatre of action. At one time, however, the B-26 was considered so dangerous an aircraft that aircrews tried to avoid getting assigned to Marauder -equipped units and some crews actually refused to fly B-26s.
The reality was that the Marauder could be safely flown if crews were adequately trained and knew what they were doing. It nevertheless did demand a higher standard of training from its crews than did its stablemate, the B-25 Mitchell. However, once mastered, the B-26 offered a level of operational immunity to its crews unmatched by any other aircraft in its class. Despite its high landing speed of 130 mph, the Marauder had no really vicious flying characteristics and its single-engine performance was good. A Martin-designed dorsal turret located behind the bomb bay just ahead of the tail was the first power-operated turret to be fitted to an American bomber. There were two bomb bays, fore and aft. The bomb bay doors were unusual in being split in tandem, the forward pair folding in half when opened and the aft set being hinged normally to open outward. Two 2,000-lb. bombs could be carried in the main forward bomb bay, but up to 4,800 lbs. of smaller bombs could be carried if the aft bay was used as well.
52 B-26As were delivered to the Royal Air Force under the name Marauder Mk I. Most of them went to the Middle East in 1942 for service in Egypt in an attempt to defend the Suez Canal against the advance of the Afrika Korps. The RAF was the first service to introduce the Marauder into action in the Mediterranean (where it served predominately) with the first operational mission by Marauders being flown on the 28
