Martin B-26 "Marauder"
Model Airplane News Cover Art for March, 1941
by Jo Kotula
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The Martin B-26 "Marauder" was a World War II twin-engine medium bomber built by the Glenn L. Martin Company.

The first US medium bomber used in the Pacific Theater in early 1941, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe. The aircraft distinguished itself as "the chief bombardment weapon on the Western Front" according to a United States Army Air Forces dispatch from 1946, and later variants maintained the lowest loss record of any U.S. combat aircraft during World War II. Its late-war loss record stands in sharp contrast to its unofficial nickname "The Widowmaker" — earned due to early models' high rate of accidents during takeoff.

A total of 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, separate from the Army, all Martin B-26's had been retired from US service; The Douglas A-26 Invader then assumed the B-26 designation

  

Martin B-26 "Marauder"
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Here is a video of the Martin B-26 "Marauder" in action:

Click Here for more information about the Martin B-26 "Marauder".

The Cleveland Martin B-26 "Marauder" is an extremely challenging kit and it is even harder to adapt to powered flight. However, examples that I have seen, particularly of the large scale version are absolutely breathtaking.

     

Cleveland Model of the Martin B-26 Marauder

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You can buy the plans and patterns that will enable you to make this model right now. Click Here to go to the exact location on the Cleveland Website to get them.

Martin B-26 "Marauder" at the Cleveland Site
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